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problem:the_set_of_simple_shift_permutations

The Set Of Simple Shift Permutations

Problem

Let $S = \{a,b,c,\ldots,z\}$ be the set of letters in the Roman alphabet. For each $n\in\mathbb{Z}$, let $\phi_{n}:S\to S$ represent the encryption key that shifts each letter in the alphabet right $n$, where we wrap around from $z$ to $a$ for letters that need to be shifted past $z$. So $\phi_3(a)=d$, $\phi_3(b)=3$, and $\phi_3(z)=c$. We've called this a simple shift permutation of $S$.

  1. For which $n$ does $\phi_n$ not change the message?
  2. Consider the encryption key $\phi_{9}$, which shifts each letter right 9. If a message had been encrypted using $\phi_9$, then clearly $\phi_{-9}$ would decrypt the message as $\phi_{-9}(\phi_9(s))=s$ for any letter $s$. Give a positive integer $n$ that we could also use to decode a message that has been encrypted using $\phi_9$.
  3. Does $\phi_{30}=\phi_7$? Does $\phi_{33}=\phi_7$? For which $n$ does $\phi_n=\phi_7$? Explain.
  4. Consider the set of all shifts of $S$, namely $H=\{\phi_n\mid n\in\mathbb{Z}\}$. How many different functions are in $H$?

Remarks

  • Make remarks with a list.

$\LaTeX$ version

problem.the_set_of_simple_shift.tex
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% DEPENDENCIES
% RequiredPackages: \usepackage{tikz}
% RequiredMacros: \DeclareMathOperator{\aut}{Aut} 
%%%%%
\begin{problem}
Let $S = \{a,b,c,\ldots,z\}$ be the set of letters in the Roman alphabet. For each $n\in\mathbb{Z}$, let $\phi_{n}:S\to S$ represent the encryption key that shifts each letter in the alphabet right $n$, where we wrap around from $z$ to $a$ for letters that need to be shifted past $z$. So $\phi_3(a)=d$, $\phi_3(b)=3$, and $\phi_3(z)=c$. We've called this a simple shift permutation of $S$.
 
\begin{enumerate}
\item For which $n$ does $\phi_n$ not change the message?
\item Consider the encryption key $\phi_{9}$, which shifts each letter right 9.  If a message had been encrypted using $\phi_9$, then clearly $\phi_{-9}$ would decrypt the message as $\phi_{-9}(\phi_9(s))=s$ for any letter $s$. Give a positive integer $n$ that we could also use to decode a message that has been encrypted using $\phi_9$.
\item Does $\phi_{30}=\phi_7$?  Does $\phi_{33}=\phi_7$?  For which $n$ does $\phi_n=\phi_7$? Explain.
\item Consider the set of all shifts of $S$, namely $H=\{\phi_n\mid n\in\mathbb{Z}\}$.  How many different functions are in $H$?
\end{enumerate}
\end{problem}

problem ben

problem/the_set_of_simple_shift_permutations.txt · Last modified: 2013/09/27 16:53 by tarafife