modular multiplication of large numbers in c++

Question

I have three integers A, B (less than 10^12) and C (less than 10^15). I want to calculate (A * B) % C. I know that

(A * B) % C = ((A % C) * (B % C)) % C

but say if A = B = 10^11 then above expression will cause an integer overflow. Is there any simple solution for above case or I have to use fast multiplication algorithms.

If I have to use fast multiplication algorithm then which algorithm I should use.

EDIT: I have tried above problem in C++ (which does not cause overflow, not sure why), but isn't the answer should be zero?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Given your formula and a the following variation:

(A + B) mod C = ((A mod C) + (B mod C)) mod C 

You can use the divide and conquer approach to develope an algorithm that is both easy and fast:

#include <iostream>

long bigMod(long  a, long  b, long c) {
    if (a == 0 || b == 0) {
        return 0;
    }
    if (a == 1) {
        return b;
    }
    if (b == 1) {
        return a;
    } 

    // Returns: (a * b/2) mod c
    long a2 = bigMod(a, b / 2, c);

    // Even factor
    if ((b & 1) == 0) {
        // [((a * b/2) mod c) + ((a * b/2) mod c)] mod c
        return (a2 + a2) % c;
    } else {
        // Odd exponent
        // [(a mod c) + ((a * b/2) mod c) + ((a * b/2) mod c)] mod c
        return ((a % c) + (a2 + a2)) % c;
    }
}

int main() { 
    // Use the min(a, b) as the second parameter
    // This prints: 27
    std::cout << bigMod(64545, 58971, 144) << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

Which is O(log N)

Answer 2

You can solve this using Schrage's method. This allows you to multiply two signed numbers a and z both with a certain modulus m without generating an intermediate number greater than that.

It's based on an approximate factorisation of the modulus m,

m = aq + r 

i.e.

q = [m / a]

and

r = m mod a

where [] denotes the integer part. If r < q and 0 < z < m − 1, then both a(z mod q) and r[z / q] lie in the range 0,...,m − 1 and

az mod m = a(z mod q) − r[z / q]

If this is negative then add m.

[This technique is frequently used in linear congruential random number generators].

Answer 3

UPDATED: Fixed error when high bit of a % c is set. (hat tip: Kevin Hopps)

If you're looking for simple over fast, then you can use the following:

typedef unsigned long long u64;

u64 multiplyModulo(u64 a, u64 b, u64 c)
{
    u64 result = 0;
    a %= c;
    b %= c;
    while(b) {
        if(b & 0x1) {
            result += a;
            result %= c;
        }
        b >>= 1;
        if(a < c - a) {
            a <<= 1;
        } else {
            a -= (c - a);
        }
    }
    return result;
}

Answer 4

Sorry, but godel9's algorithm will produce an incorrect result when the variable "a" holds a value that has the high bit set. This is because "a <<= 1" loses information. Here is a corrected algorithm that works for any integer type, signed or unsigned.

template <typename IntType>
IntType add(IntType a, IntType b, IntType c)
    {
    assert(c > 0 && 0 <= a && a < c && 0 <= b && b < c);
    IntType room = (c - 1) - a;
    if (b <= room)
        a += b;
    else
        a = b - room - 1;
    return a;
    }

template <typename IntType>
IntType mod(IntType a, IntType c)
    {
    assert(c > 0);
    IntType q = a / c; // q may be negative
    a -= q * c; // now -c < a && a < c
    if (a < 0)
        a += c;
    return a;
    }

template <typename IntType>
IntType multiplyModulo(IntType a, IntType b, IntType c)
    {
    IntType result = 0;
    a = mod(a, c);
    b = mod(b, c);
    if (b > a)
        std::swap(a, b);
    while (b)
        {
        if (b & 0x1)
            result = add(result, a, c);
        a = add(a, a, c);
        b >>= 1;
        }
    return result;
    }

Answer 5

In this case, A and B are 40 bit numbers, and C is a 50 bit number, which isn't an issue in 64 bit mode, if you have an intrinsic or can write assembly code to use a 64 bit by 64 bit multiply that produces a 128 bit result (product is actually 80 bits), after which you divide a 128 bit dividend by a 50 bit divisor to produce a 50 bit remainder (the modulo).

Depending on the processor, it may be faster to implement the divide by 50 bit constant by multiplying by 81 bit (or less) constant. Again assuming 64 bit processor, it will take 4 multiplies and some adds followed by a shift of the upper bits of the 4 multiply product to produce a quotient . Then a multiply of quotient times 50 bit modulo number and subtract (from 80 bit product) is used to produce a 50 bit remainder.