Tuesday 28 February 2017

elementary number theory - Compute $gcd(a+b, 2a+3b)$ if $gcd(a,b) = 1$

A question from a problem set is asking to compute the value of $\gcd(a+b, 2a+3b)$ if $\gcd(a+b) = 1$, or if it isn't possible, prove why.



Here's how I ended up doing it:



$\gcd(a,b) = 1$ implies that for some integers $x$, and $y$, that $ax+by = 1$.



Let $d = gcd(a+b, 2a+3b)$. This implies:




$\implies \text{d is divisible into }2(2a+3b) - 4(a+b) = 2b\cdots (1)$



$\implies \text{d is divisible into} 6(a+b) - 2(2a+3b) = 2a\cdots (2)$



Statement $(1)$ implies that $d$ divides $2by$ for some integer $y$



Statement $(2)$ implies that $d$ divides $2ax$ for some integer $x$



This implies that $d$ is divisible into $2(ax+by)$, which implies:




$\gcd(a+b, 2a+3b) =\text{ either 1 or 2}$



Thus the result is not generally determinable as it takes $2$ possible values.



Are my assumptions and logic correct? If not, where are the errors?



Thank you!

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