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Number theory Difficulty 4.7 AIME Prove it Soviet Union

Problem:
Given any natural numbers mm, nn and kk. Prove that we can always find relatively prime natural numbers rr and ss such that rm+snrm + sn is a multiple of kk.

Solution

Solution:
Let d=(m,n)d = (m, n), the greatest common divisor of mm and nn. Let r=n/dr = n/d, s=nhkm/ds = nhk - m/d, where hh is any integer sufficiently large to ensure that s>0s > 0. Now rm+sn=mn/d+nnhkmn/d=nnhkrm + sn = mn/d + nnhk - mn/d = nnhk, which is a multiple of kk. If ee divides rr, then it also divides rdhk=nhkrdhk = nhk. So if ee divides rr and ss, then it also divides snhk=m/ds - nhk = -m/d. But n/dn/d and m/dm/d are relatively prime, so ee must be 11. Hence rr and ss are relatively prime.

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