Why modulo m1 and modulo m2 implies modulo [m1, m2]

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The discussion centers on the mathematical proof that if \( a \equiv r \, (\text{mod} \, m1) \) and \( a \equiv r \, (\text{mod} \, m2) \), then it follows that \( a \equiv r \, (\text{mod} \, [m1, m2]) \), where \([m1, m2]\) denotes the least common multiple of \( m1 \) and \( m2 \). The proof is simplified by establishing that if \( m1 \) divides \( (a - r) \) and \( m2 \) divides \( (a - r) \), then \( (a - r) \) is a common multiple of both \( m1 \) and \( m2 \), thus confirming that \( [m1, m2] \) also divides \( (a - r) \).

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Why "modulo m1" and "modulo m2" implies "modulo [m1, m2]"

If [tex]a \equiv r[/tex] (mod m1) and [tex]a \equiv r[/tex] (mod m2) then [tex]a \equiv r[/tex] (mod [m1, m2]), where [a, b] is the least common multiple of a and b.

I have tried to prove that.

Assume that
[tex][m_{1}, m_{2}] = l_{1}m_{1} = l_{2}m_{2}[/tex]

and

[tex]a = k_{1}m_{1} + r[/tex]
[tex]a = k_{2}m_{2} + r[/tex]

Then

[tex]al_{1} = k_{1}l_{1}m_{1} + rl_{1}[/tex]
[tex]al_{2} = k_{2}l_{2}m_{2} + rl_{2}[/tex]

thus

[tex]a(l_{1} - l_{2}) = [m_{1}, m_{2}](k_{1} - k_{2}) + r(l_{1} - l_{2})[/tex]

and

[tex]a = [m_{1}, m_{2}] {(k_{1} - k_{2}) \over (l_{1} - l_{2})} + r[/tex]

In order to

[tex]a \equiv r\ (mod [m_{1}, m_{2}])[/tex], or [tex]a = K[m_{1}, m_{2}] + r[/tex]

we have to prove that

[tex](l_{1} - l_{2})\; | \; (k_{1} - k_{2})[/tex]

But how?
 
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This doesn't directly answer your question, but wouldn't the proof be a lot easier if you started off with m1|(a-r) and m2|(a-r) ... ?
 


Gokul43201 said:
This doesn't directly answer your question, but wouldn't the proof be a lot easier if you started off with m1|(a-r) and m2|(a-r) ... ?

You are right, the proof is actually very simple:

If m1 | (a-r) and m2 | (a-r) then a-r is a common multiple of m1 and m2. Therefore it is divisible by the least common multiple, [m1, m2]. Thus [m1, m2] | (a-r), or [tex]a[/tex] [tex]\equiv r[/tex] (mod [m1, m2])
 

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