The Fibonacci sequence is defined by F_1 = F_2 = 1 and F_{n + 2} = F_{n + 1} + F_n.  Find the remainder when F_{1000} is divided by 17.

1 answer

To find the remainder when \( F_{1000} \) is divided by 17, we need to determine \( F_{1000} \mod 17 \). The Fibonacci sequence is periodic modulo any integer \( m \). This periodicity is known as Pisano period, denoted as \( \pi(m) \).

We begin by calculating the Fibonacci sequence modulo 17 and looking for a repeating pattern.

First, initialize \( F_1 \) and \( F_2 \):
\[
F_1 \equiv 1 \mod 17, \qquad F_2 \equiv 1 \mod 17
\]

Next, compute the subsequent terms using the recurrence relation \( F_{n+2} = F_{n+1} + F_n \):

\[
\begin{align*}
F_3 & = F_2 + F_1 \equiv 1 + 1 \equiv 2 \mod 17, \\
F_4 & = F_3 + F_2 \equiv 2 + 1 \equiv 3 \mod 17, \\
F_5 & = F_4 + F_3 \equiv 3 + 2 \equiv 5 \mod 17, \\
F_6 & = F_5 + F_4 \equiv 5 + 3 \equiv 8 \mod 17, \\
F_7 & = F_6 + F_5 \equiv 8 + 5 \equiv 13 \mod 17, \\
F_8 & = F_7 + F_6 \equiv 13 + 8 \equiv 21 \equiv 4 \mod 17, \\
F_9 & = F_8 + F_7 \equiv 4 + 13 \equiv 17 \equiv 0 \mod 17, \\
F_{10} & = F_9 + F_8 \equiv 0 + 4 \equiv 4 \mod 17, \\
F_{11} & = F_{10} + F_9 \equiv 4 + 0 \equiv 4 \mod 17, \\
F_{12} & = F_{11} + F_{10} \equiv 4 + 4 \equiv 8 \mod 17, \\
F_{13} & = F_{12} + F_{11} \equiv 8 + 4 \equiv 12 \mod 17, \\
F_{14} & = F_{13} + F_{12} \equiv 12 + 8 \equiv 20 \equiv 3 \mod 17, \\
F_{15} & = F_{14} + F_{13} \equiv 3 + 12 \equiv 15 \mod 17, \\
F_{16} & = F_{15} + F_{14} \equiv 15 + 3 \equiv 18 \equiv 1 \mod 17, \\
F_{17} & = F_{16} + F_{15} \equiv 1 + 15 \equiv 16 \mod 17, \\
F_{18} & = F_{17} + F_{16} \equiv 16 + 1 \equiv 17 \equiv 0 \mod 17, \\
F_{19} & = F_{18} + F_{17} \equiv 0 + 16 \equiv 16 \mod 17, \\
F_{20} & = F_{19} + F_{18} \equiv 16 + 0 \equiv 16 \mod 17, \\
F_{21} & = F_{20} + F_{19} \equiv 16 + 16 \equiv 32 \equiv 15 \mod 17, \\
F_{22} & = F_{21} + F_{20} \equiv 15 + 16 \equiv 31 \equiv 14 \mod 17, \\
F_{23} & = F_{22} + F_{21} \equiv 14 + 15 \equiv 29 \equiv 12 \mod 17, \\
F_{24} & = F_{23} + F_{22} \equiv 12 + 14 \equiv 26 \equiv 9 \mod 17, \\
F_{25} & = F_{24} + F_{23} \equiv 9 + 12 \equiv 21 \equiv 4 \mod 17, \\
F_{26} & = F_{25} + F_{24} \equiv 4 + 9 \equiv 13 \mod 17, \\
F_{27} & = F_{26} + F_{25} \equiv 13 + 4 \equiv 17 \equiv 0 \mod 17.
\end{align*}
\]

Notice that \( F_{n+17} \mod 17 \) seems to bring us back to partial restarting. Let's check for the entire period up to a larger number \( n = 34 \) corroborate the observation :

\[
F_{34} = F_{16} \equiv 1 \mod 17.
\]

Hence, we see the consistent behavior modulo 17 cycles every 36 terms as seen from direct computation of the pattern. Therefore, \( \pi(17) = 36 \).

To find \( F_{1000} \mod 17 \), we calculate:

\[
1000 \mod 36 = 28.
\]

Thus,

\[
F_{1000} \equiv F_{28} \mod 17.
\]

Next, compute \( F_{28} \mod 17 \):

\[
F_{28} = F_{27} + F_{26} = 0 + F_{26} = 13 \mod 17.
\]

Therefore, the remainder when \( F_{1000} \) is divided by 17 is:

\[
\boxed{9}.
\]