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
$$
$$
(i) if $a$ | $b$ and $a$ | $c$, then $a$ | ($b+c$)
$$
$$
(ii) if $a$ | $b$ and $a$|$bc$ for all integers $c$;
$$
$$
(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) $$a|b\implies b=k_1a\,\land\,b|c\implies c=k_2b=k_1k_2a=k_3a\,\therefore\,a|c$$
 
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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