High School Proof of a lemma of BÉZOUT’S THEOREM

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The discussion revolves around a lemma of Bézout's theorem, stating that if a, b, and c are positive integers with gcd(a, b) = 1 and a divides bc, then a also divides c. The poster expresses confusion regarding the implications of the equation bc/a = s and the relationship between the integers involved. They provide a numerical example with a = 5, b = 3, and c = 10 to illustrate their point, confirming that both 5 divides 30 and 5 divides 10 are true. Ultimately, they realize their misunderstanding about the relationship between the variables and express gratitude for any clarifications. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding divisibility in number theory.
SamitC
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Hi,
One silly thing is bothering me. As per one lemma, If a, b, and c are positive integers such that gcd(a, b) = 1 and a | bc, then a | c. This is intuitively obvious. i.e.
Since GCD is 1 'a' does not divide 'b'. Now, 'a' divides 'bc' so, 'a' divides 'c'. Proved.

What is bothering me is : suppose bc/a = s. Then as = bc. Thus a = (b/s) c ... (1)
Now, if c/a is an integer so is s/b. Which means b/s is not an integer. Putting this in (1) - how 'a' divides 'c'?
Thanks in advance
 
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SamitC said:
Which means b/s is not an integer.
So what? Where does b/s appear?

Maybe it is easier to understand with a numerical example:
a=5, b=3, c=10
5 | 30 is true, 5 | 10 is true as well.
bc/a = s gives us s = 30/5 = 6.
s/b=2, and b/s=1/2 is not an integer. So what?
 
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mfb said:
So what? Where does b/s appear?

Maybe it is easier to understand with a numerical example:
a=5, b=3, c=10
5 | 30 is true, 5 | 10 is true as well.
bc/a = s gives us s = 30/5 = 6.
s/b=2, and b/s=1/2 is not an integer. So what?

Thanks for your reply.
Sorry...don't know why i asked this question... a (s/b) = c ...i don't know why I was thinking the other way.
Anyways...thanks
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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