Question

In the RSA algorithm, we select 2 random large values ‘p’ and ‘q’. Which of the following is the property of ‘p’ and ‘q’?

(a) p and q should be divisible by Ф(n)

(b) p and q should be co-prime

(c) p and q should be prime

(d) p/q should give no remainder

The question was asked in an online interview.

The above asked question is from Knapsack/ Merkle topic in portion Public Key Cryptography and RSA of Cryptograph & Network Security

Answer 1

The correct choice is (c) p and q should be prime

To explain I would say: ‘p’ and ‘q’ should have large random values which are both prime numbers.