The number of elements which are squares in a finite field. Meanwhile reading some introductory notes about the projective special linear group $PSL(2,q)$ wherein $q$ is the cardinal number of the field; I saw:

....in a finite field of order $q$, the number of elements ($≠0$) which are squares is $q-1$ if $q$ is even number and is $\frac{1}{2}(q-1)$ if $q$ is a odd number..." .

I can see it through $\mathbb Z_5$ or $GF(2)$. Any hints for proving above fact? Thanks.

Another way to prove it, way less elegant than Dustan's but perhaps slightly more elementary: let $$a_1,a_2,...,a_{q-1}$$ be the non zero residues modulo $\,q\,,\,q$ an odd prime . Observe that $\,\,\forall\,i\,,\,\,a_i^2=(q-a_i)^2 \pmod q\,$ , so that all the quadratic residues must be among $$a_1^2\,,\,a_2^2\,,...,a_m^2\,\,,\,m:=\frac{q-1}{2}
$$
Note that $\,\,\forall\,1\leq i,j\leq m\,:$$$a_i+a_j=0\Longrightarrow a_i=-a_j=q-a_i\Longrightarrow$$$$\Longrightarrow a_i-a_j=q=0$$
Both left most equalities above would lead us to $\,a_i=a_j=0\,$, which is absurd.
Finally, we prove that not two of the above $\,\,(q-1)/2\,\,$ elements are equal. The following's done modulo $\,q$:$$a_i^2=a_j^2\Longrightarrow (a_i-a_j)(a_i+a_j)=0\Longrightarrow a_i-a_j=0$$since we already showed that $\,\,a_i+a_j\neq 0$
