# What is the value of Q such that Q|P-1 where P is a prime number?

For my crypto assignment, I'm asked to enter a prime P and generate Q such that Q|P-1

Can anyone guide me what is Q|P-1?

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That notation means $Q$ divides $P-1$. In other words, divide $P-1$ by $Q$, is there a remainder, if so then $Q$ does not divide $P-1$, if not then $Q$ divides $P-1$. –  mikeazo Nov 7 at 16:28
That means that Q divides P-1. –  DrLecter Nov 7 at 16:28
BTW, there is a very simple answer that works for all primes but one. –  mikeazo Nov 7 at 16:29
Will the result of q be a prime? or can it be a composite? –  Calvin Peh Nov 7 at 16:30
Assuming this is about generating a finite field with a subgroup of order Q, we usually choose Q first, then choose a r such that P=Q*r+1 with P of appropriate size. Repeat with different Q or r until P is prime. That way you don't need to do any factoring. For Diffie-Hellman we often choose r=2 and vary Q, for signatures fixing Q and varying r can be preferable. –  CodesInChaos Nov 7 at 21:20

It means $Q$ divides $P-1$. In other words, $P-1$ is a multiple of $Q$.