Can anyone please review/verify this proof of greatest common divisor?

  • Thread starter Math100
  • Start date
  • #1
Math100
690
180
Homework Statement:
Prove that the greatest common divisor of two positive integers divides their least common multiple.
Relevant Equations:
None.
Proof: Suppose gcd(a, b)=d.
Then we have d##\mid##a and d##\mid##b for some a, b##\in## ##\mathbb{Z}##.
This means a=md and b=nd for some m, n##\in## ##\mathbb{Z}##.
Now we have lcm(a, b)=##\frac{ab}{gcd(a, b)}##
=##\frac{(md)(nd)}{d}##
=dmn
=dk,
where k=mn is an integer.
Thus, d##\mid##lcm(a, b), and so gcd(a, b)##\mid##lcm(a, b).
Therefore, the greatest common divisor of two positive integers divides their least common multiple.
 

Answers and Replies

  • #2
valenumr
467
191
Seems sufficient. Note that the LCM is also basically a multiplication of unique prime factors, for lack of a better phrasing. Take 12 and 28, for example. One is 2*2*3, and the other is 2*2*7. So you end up with 2*2*3*7 as the LCM. The GCD, on the other hand, is prime factors in common, so I this example, 2*2, which are exactly the duplicate factors that get extracted from the LCM, but they must necissarily exist in the LCM.
 
  • #3
Math100
690
180
Seems sufficient. Note that the LCM is also basically a multiplication of unique prime factors, for lack of a better phrasing. Take 12 and 28, for example. One is 2*2*3, and the other is 2*2*7. So you end up with 2*2*3*7 as the LCM. The GCD, on the other hand, is prime factors in common, so I this example, 2*2, which are exactly the duplicate factors that get extracted from the LCM, but they must necissarily exist in the LCM.
Thank you for the help.
 

Suggested for: Can anyone please review/verify this proof of greatest common divisor?

Replies
5
Views
627
Replies
12
Views
497
Replies
5
Views
425
Replies
4
Views
439
Replies
7
Views
616
Replies
7
Views
590
Replies
4
Views
514
Replies
2
Views
469
Replies
2
Views
674
Top