Greatest common divisor proof

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving a statement related to the greatest common divisor (gcd) of integers. The original poster presents a problem involving integers \(a\) and \(b\) with a gcd of 1, and integers \(c\) and \(d\) that divide \(a\) and \(b\) respectively. The goal is to prove that the gcd of \(c\) and \(d\) is also 1.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of sets to represent the divisors of \(a\) and \(b\) and question the notation used to express the intersection of these sets. There is also a focus on whether certain statements about subsets need to be proven.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing feedback on the original poster's reasoning and notation. Some guidance has been offered regarding the clarity of expressions and the necessity of proving certain statements. There is no explicit consensus on the completeness of the proof presented.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions that this problem is from a book they are using for an upcoming analysis course, indicating that they are self-assessing their understanding before the course begins.

knockout_artist
Messages
70
Reaction score
2
Hi,
I need opinion about this problem.
==================================================
question :Prove:
If(a,b)= l and if ( "(a,b)=1" mean greatest common divisor of integers and b is 1 )
c|a (c divides a)
and
d|b (d divides b )
then
(c,d)= 1. ( "(c,d)=1" mean greatest common divisor of integers and b is 1 ) <-- this need to be proved.
========================================
(Is that following a good proof ?)
========================================
Then there are 2 sets A and B.
divisors of a ∈ A <-- do this need be proved too?
divisors of b ∈ B

A ∩ B = 1

since
c ⊂ A
d ⊂ B

c ∩ b = 1 which is what we are looking for.
===========================================

Thank you.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You are correct when you say you can consider the sets ##A,B## containing the divisors of ##a##, resp. ##b##. You don't need to prove that. You know that such a set always exists.

However, when you write ##A \cap B = 1##, this is bad notation. You either write ##A \cap B = \{1\}## or ##|A \cap B | = 1##. I don't know what exactly you mean by this, but either way you must explain why this is true.

You also wrote ##c \cap d = 1## which doesn't make sense as ##c,d## are elements and not sets.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: knockout_artist
Then there are 2 sets A and B.
divisors of a ∈ A
divisors of b ∈ B

A ∩ B = {1} <-- this is just restating the fact that 'a' and 'b' has only gcd which is "1" I am trying to say the divisor set A and divisor set be B has only one common element with is "1"c ∈ A <--because 'c' divide 'a' that means its part of 'A' set of all the divisor of a
d ∈ B < -- same reason as above

if
C ={ all the divisor of c }
D ={ all the divisor of d }

C ⊂ A because a is one of the multiples of c. is this need to proved ?
D ⊂ B same reason as above.

we know A ∩ B = {1}
since C ⊂ A and D ⊂ B

C ∩ D ={1}
Which means the only common divisor of c and d is '1'
 
knockout_artist said:
C ⊂ A because a is one of the multiples of c. is this need to proved ?
You can prove it, but I guess your course did that earlier already - it is one of the basic features of divisibility.
 
So I have proved it properly ?
Please tell.

Thank you.
 
I'm not the person grading your homework. I think it is okay, but I cannot know if the person grading your homework wants to see more steps in between.

I moved the thread to our homework section, by the way.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: knockout_artist
mfb said:
I'm not the person grading your homework. I think it is okay, but I cannot know if the person grading your homework wants to see more steps in between.

I moved the thread to our homework section, by the way.

Its not home work, I am judging my self before taking a analysis course. That will be my first ever math course.
This problem is from the book I will be using.
That is why I was keen to know.
Thank you.
 
i would just show directly that if x divides both c and d, then x also divides both a and b, hence x = ±1.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: knockout_artist
knockout_artist said:
This problem is from the book I will be using.

Curious - what's the name/author of the book?
 
  • #10
UsableThought said:
Curious - what's the name/author of the book?

Introduction to Analytic Number Theory
by Tom M. Apostol
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0387901639/?tag=pfamazon01-20BTW, what I posted is not how this book deals with things.
I once read a book, a few chapters, "introduction to topology".
So I remembered some set language.

In t Apostol's book I have read only few pages, I tried this problem from Apostol's book because It looked like it could have been done, before reading stuff from the book.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: UsableThought

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K