Let's consider two polynomials in $\mathbb{F}_{p}[x]$: $f(x)=x^{p^{n}-1}-1$ and $g(x)=x^{p^{k}-1}-1$. How to prove that $g(x) \mid f(x)$ iff $k \mid n$?
For instance, it's worth trying this: According to the Little Fermat theorem $x^{p} \equiv x \mod p$, then $x^{p^{k}} \equiv x^{k}\mod p$, $ x^{p^{k}-1} \equiv x^{k-1} \mod p$. So the problem is reduced to showing that $x^{k-1}-1$ divides $x^{n-1}-1$ iff $k | n$.
Any help would be much appreciated.