Modular arithmetic has often been regarded as something of amathemat-ical curiosity, at least by those unfamiliar with its importance to both abstract algebra
and number theory, and with its numerous applications. However, with the ubiquity
of fast digital computers, and the need for reliable digitalsecurity systems such as
RSA, this important branch of mathematics is now consideredessential knowledge
for many professionals. Indeed, computer arithmetic itself is, ipso facto, modular.
This chapter describes how the modern graphical spreadsheet may be used to clearly
illustrate the basics of modular arithmetic, and to solve certain classes of problems.
Students may then gain structural insight and the foundations laid for applications to
such areas as hashing, random number generation, and public-key cryptography.
Keywords: modular arithmetic, conditional formatting
