Proof of gcd and lcm properties for prime factorizations

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on proving the properties of the greatest common divisor (gcd) and least common multiple (lcm) using prime factorizations. The participants explore the relationship between the binary representation of integers and the number of integers with a specific number of binary digits, concluding that for a number n with k binary digits, there are exactly 2k-1 valid integers. Additionally, they establish that for two integers a and b with prime factorizations a = p1m1 × p2m2 × ... × pkmk and b = p1n1 × p2n2 × ... × pknk, the gcd and lcm can be expressed as gcd(a,b) = p1min(m1, n1) × p2min(m2, n2) × ... × pkmin(mk, nk) and lcm(a,b) = p1max(m1, n1) × p2max(m2, n2) × ... × pkmax(mk, nk).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of binary numeral systems
  • Knowledge of prime factorization
  • Familiarity with gcd and lcm concepts
bobsmiters
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If n has k digits in its binary numeral, show that there are at most 2^k/2 numbers n. Can there be exactly 2^k/2?

I tried to understand this question with an example so I took n=36 which has the binary number 100100; k=6 but 2^k/2n gives 2^3 36 but 8 is not less than or equal to 6? Any help is appreciated for either question.

Also does anyone know how to prove this:

Suppose that p_1, p_2, ..., p_k are all the primes that divide a or b, and that a=p_1^m_1 X p_2^m_2 X...X p_k^m_k, b=p_1^n_1 X p_2^n_2 X...Xp_k^n_k

Deduce that: gcd(a,b) = p_1^min(m_1, n_1)Xp_2^min(m_2,n_2)...Xp_k^min(m_k, n_k),

lcm(a,b) = p_1^max(m_1, n_1)Xp_2^max(m_2,n_2)...Xp_k^max(m_k, n_k)
 
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I think the first question should be understood as
"How many integers are there with k digits in its binary representation?".

Disregarding the special case n = 0, the first digit in the binary representation of a number n with k digits must always be 1. The rest however can be either 0 or 1. That gives us exactly
2k-1 = 2k/2 different numbers.
 
bobsmiters said:
Also does anyone know how to prove this:
Suppose that p_1, p_2, ..., p_k are all the primes that divide a or b, and that a=p_1^m_1 X p_2^m_2 X...X p_k^m_k, b=p_1^n_1 X p_2^n_2 X...Xp_k^n_k

Deduce that: gcd(a,b) = p_1^min(m_1,n_1)Xp_2^min(m_2,n_2)...Xp_k^min(m_k, n_k)

If [tex]c=p_1^{\min(m_1,n_1)}\ldots p_k^{\min(m_k, n_k)}[/tex] you have a couple of things to show. First show that c divides both a and b. This should be easy.

Next, if d divides both a and b, you want to show d divides c. Consider the prime factorization of d, and use the assumption that it divides both a and b here.

The lcm one is similar.
 

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