- #1
Math100
- 797
- 221
- Homework Statement
- Prove that the greatest common divisor of two positive integers divides their least common multiple.
- Relevant Equations
- None.
Proof: Suppose gcd(a, b)=d.
Then we have d##\mid##a and d##\mid##b for some a, b##\in## ##\mathbb{Z}##.
This means a=md and b=nd for some m, n##\in## ##\mathbb{Z}##.
Now we have lcm(a, b)=##\frac{ab}{gcd(a, b)}##
=##\frac{(md)(nd)}{d}##
=dmn
=dk,
where k=mn is an integer.
Thus, d##\mid##lcm(a, b), and so gcd(a, b)##\mid##lcm(a, b).
Therefore, the greatest common divisor of two positive integers divides their least common multiple.
Then we have d##\mid##a and d##\mid##b for some a, b##\in## ##\mathbb{Z}##.
This means a=md and b=nd for some m, n##\in## ##\mathbb{Z}##.
Now we have lcm(a, b)=##\frac{ab}{gcd(a, b)}##
=##\frac{(md)(nd)}{d}##
=dmn
=dk,
where k=mn is an integer.
Thus, d##\mid##lcm(a, b), and so gcd(a, b)##\mid##lcm(a, b).
Therefore, the greatest common divisor of two positive integers divides their least common multiple.