Divisibility
Lesson · Beginner
Number Theory
Definition
(" divides ") if and only if there exists an integer such that
Like even numbers, which have the form .
Properties
Proof.
By the definition of divisibility
Proof.
Therefore
Proof.
so
Also
so
Proof.
If
then
Hence
so
Also
so
Finally
so
Proof.
If
then
Therefore
Since
we have
so
Hence
Proof.
If
then
Multiplying both sides by
Therefore
Proof.
If
then
Hence
so
Proof.
If
then
The only integer solutions are
or
Therefore
Proof.
If
then
If
then
Therefore
Proof.
If
then
If
then
Hence
so
Also
therefore
Proof.
If
then
If
then
Therefore
so
Proof.
By Property 11
implies
Repeating the same argument times gives
Proof.
By Property 7
and
Then, by Property 10
Proof.
If
then
Since
we may divide both sides by to obtain
Therefore
Proof.
If
then
If
then
Substituting
so
Hence
which implies
Therefore
Proof.
If
then is a common divisor of and .
By the defining property of the greatest common divisor, every common divisor of and divides
Hence
If
then, since
Property 9 gives
Proof.
If
then is a common multiple of and .
By the defining property of the least common multiple
If
then, since
Property 9 gives
Proof.
Since
Bézout's Theorem gives
Multiplying both sides by
Since
there exists an integer such that
Hence
Therefore
so
where is prime.
Proof.
If
then
because is prime.
Since
Property 18 (Euclid's Lemma) implies
Therefore
Suppose
Find the possible integers .
Suppose
Find the possible integers .
All of them satisfy
Assume
Find the possible integers .
For each , try to find at least one that satisfies the divisibilities.
For , all values of work.
For , works.
Assume
Find the possible integers .
For , all values of work.
does not work, since and are odd.
Therefore
From
we may conclude
only when
This condition matters.
In general
does not imply
For example
but
The implication works when the divisor is prime
From
we cannot always conclude
For example
but
We can conclude
If additionally
then
From
you cannot simply "cancel " and conclude
For that conclusion, you need
Then Euclid's Lemma applies.
If the variables are integers and
then possible values of include both positive and negative divisors of .