The congruence speed formula

Abstract

We solve a few open problems related to a peculiar property of the integer tetration ${^{b}a}$, which is the constancy of its congruence speed for any sufficiently large $b=b(a)$. Assuming radix-$10$ (the well-known decimal numeral system), we provide an explicit formula for the congruence speed $V(a) \in \mathbb{N}_0$ of any $a \in \mathbb{N}-\{0\}$ that is not a multiple of $10$. In particular, for any given $n \in \mathbb{N}$, we prove to be true Rip\`a's conjecture on the smallest $a$ such that $V(a)=n$. Moreover, for any $a \neq 1 : a \not\equiv 0 \pmod {10}$, we show the existence of infinitely many prime numbers $p_j:=p_j(V(a))$ such that $V(p_j)=V(a)$.