Let $a$, $b$ an element of $\mathbb{Z}$ with $a$ and $b$ not both zero and let $c$ be a nonzero integer. Prove that $$(ca,cb) = |c|(a,b)$$
2026-04-06 23:20:42.1775517642
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Proving that $\gcd(ac,bc)=|c|\gcd(a,b)$
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Below is a proof of the distributive law for GCDs that works in every domain.
THEOREM $\rm\quad (a,b)\ =\ (ac,bc)/c\quad$ if $\rm\ (ac,bc)\ $ exists
Proof $\rm\quad d\ |\ a,b\ \iff\ dc\ |\ ac,bc\ \iff\ dc\ |\ (ac,bc)\ \iff\ d|(ac,bc)/c$
See my post here for further discussion of this property and its relationship with Euclid's Lemma.
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If $(a,b)=d$, then the equation $ax+by=dz$ has a solution for all $z \in \mathbb{N}$, and this implies that $acx+bcy=(dc)z$ admits a solution for all $z \in \mathbb{N}$. And hence we can deduce the result which must appear in every elementary number theory book.
Moreover, you have not offered your motivation which absolutely will make the post better.
Let $d = (ca,cb)$ and $d' = |c|(a,b)$. Show that $d|d'$ and $d'|d$.