[Math] Proof if $\gcd (a, b) = 1$ then there exists $m$ and $n$ such that $am+bn=1$

abstract-algebraalgebra-precalculusgcd-and-lcm

Proof if $\gcd (a, b) = 1$.

Is it correct to say $\gcd (a, b) = 1$ THEN there exists coefficients $m$ and $n\in\mathbb Z$ such that $ma + nb = 1$ ?

I assume it's right (relatively primes) but I wanted to double check…

Best Answer

Suppose $au+bv=1$ for some integers $u,v$. Let $d:=\gcd(a,b)$ then we have $a=a'd$ and $b=b'd$ for some integers $a',b'$. Hence, $$1=au+bv=a'du+b'dv=d(a'u+b'v)$$and thus $d\mid 1$.

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