MHB How Does Modular Arithmetic Simplify Integer Divisibility Proofs?

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Modular arithmetic simplifies integer divisibility proofs by establishing clear relationships between integers. The discussion highlights three key properties of divisibility: if an integer a divides both b and c, then it divides their sum; if a divides b and also divides the product bc for all integers c; and if a divides b and b divides c, then a divides c. A proposed proof for the third property uses the definitions of divisibility to show that if a divides b and b divides c, then c can be expressed as a multiple of a. This approach effectively demonstrates the transitive nature of divisibility.
shamieh
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Let $a$, $b$, and $c$ be integers, where a $\ne$ 0. Then
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(i) if $a$ | $b$ and $a$ | $c$, then $a$ | ($b+c$)
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(ii) if $a$ | $b$ and $a$|$bc$ for all integers $c$;
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(iii) if $a$ |$b$ and $b$|$c$, then $a$|$c$.

**Prove that if $a$|$b$ and $b$|$c$ then $a$|$c$ using a column proof that has steps in the first column
and the reason for the step in the second column.**

Here is what I was thinking.. Would this be sufficient enough?$(iii)\ \ \ \dfrac{b}a,\,\dfrac{c}b\in\Bbb Z\ \Rightarrow\ \dfrac{b}a\dfrac{c}b = \dfrac{c}a\in\Bbb Z$
 
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I think I would state (where $k_i\in\mathbb{Z}$):

(iii) $$a|b\implies b=k_1a\,\land\,b|c\implies c=k_2b=k_1k_2a=k_3a\,\therefore\,a|c$$
 
I have been insisting to my statistics students that for probabilities, the rule is the number of significant figures is the number of digits past the leading zeros or leading nines. For example to give 4 significant figures for a probability: 0.000001234 and 0.99999991234 are the correct number of decimal places. That way the complementary probability can also be given to the same significant figures ( 0.999998766 and 0.00000008766 respectively). More generally if you have a value that...

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