In number theory, for a given prime number , the -adic order or -adic valuation of a non-zero integer is the highest exponent such that divides . The -adic valuation of is defined to be . It is commonly denoted . If is a rational number in lowest terms, so that and are relatively prime, then is equal to if divides , or if divides , or to if it divides neither. The most important application of the -adic order is in constructing the field of -adic numbers. It is also applied toward various more elementary topics, such as the distinction between singly and doubly even numbers.