SUMMARY
Consecutive integers are always relatively prime to each other, a fact that has been established since ancient times, likely known since the era of Euclid. The proof relies on the fundamental property of divisors, where if a divisor d divides both a and (a+1), it must also divide their difference, which is 1, leading to the conclusion that d can only be ±1. This elementary concept does not require extensive formal proof due to its straightforward nature.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of basic number theory concepts
- Familiarity with divisibility rules
- Knowledge of Euclidean algorithms
- Basic mathematical proof techniques
NEXT STEPS
- Research the history of number theory and Euclid's contributions
- Explore the properties of prime numbers and their relationships
- Study the concept of coprimality in greater depth
- Learn about modern proofs in number theory
USEFUL FOR
Mathematicians, educators, students of number theory, and anyone interested in the historical development of mathematical proofs.