Prove that if $a^{k} \equiv b^{k}  \pmod m $ and $a^{k+1} \equiv b^{k+1}  \pmod m $ and $\gcd( a, m ) = 1$ then $a \equiv b \pmod m $ My attempt:
Since $a^{k} \equiv b^{k}( \text{mod}\ \ m ) \implies m|( a^{k} - b^{k} )$ and $a^{k+1} \equiv b^{k+1}( \text{mod}\ \ m ) \implies m|( a^{k+1} - b^{k+1} ) $
Using binomial identity, we have:
$$a^{k} - b^{k} = ( a - b )( a^{k - 1} + a^{k - 2}b + a^{k - 3}b + ... ab^{k - 2} + b^{k - 1} )$$
$$a^{k + 1} - b^{k + 1} = ( a - b )( a^{k} + a^{k - 1}b + a^{k - 2}b + ... ab^{k - 1} + b^{k} )$$
Now there are two cases:
1. If $m|(a - b)$, we're done.
2. Else $m|( a^{k - 1} + a^{k - 2}b + a^{k - 3}b + ... ab^{k - 2} + b^{k - 1} )$ and $m|( a^{k} + a^{k - 1}b + a^{k - 2}b + ... ab^{k - 1} + b^{k} )$
And I was stuck from here, since I could not deduce anything from these two observations. I still have $(a, m) = 1$, and I guess this condition is used to prevent $m$ divides by the two right hand side above.   
A hint would be greatly appreciated.   
Thanks,
Chan

This is related to what Bill Dubuque said but is more elementary:
Since $a^k = b^k$ mod $m$, one has $m | (a^k - b^k)$, and similarly $m | (a^{k+1} - b^{k+1})$. Thus by the first equation $m$ divides $b(a^k - b^k) = (a^kb - b^{k+1})$. Subtracting, we have that $m | (a^{k+1} - b^{k+1}) - (a^kb - b^{k+1}) = a^{k+1} - a^kb = a^k(a - b)$. But since $(a,m) = 1$, the fact that $m | a^k(a - b)$ means $m | a - b$, or equivalently $a = b$ mod $m$ which is what you needed to show. 
