Number Theory – Prove gcd(m,n) * lcm(m,n) = mn

divisibilityelementary-number-theorygcd-and-lcmleast-common-multiple

I'm trying to prove that $\operatorname{lcm}(n,m) = nm/\gcd(n,m)$
I showed that both $n,m$ divides $nm/\gcd(n,m)$
but I can't prove that it is the smallest number.
Any help will be appreciated.

Best Answer

Hint $\,\ n,m\mid j \!\iff\! nm\mid nj,mj\!$ $\overset{\ \rm\color{darkorange}U}\iff\! nm\mid (nj,mj) \overset{\ \rm \color{#0a0}D_{\phantom |}}= (n,m)j\!$ $\iff\! nm/(n,m)\mid j$

where above we have applied $\,\rm \color{darkorange}U = $ GCD Universal Property and $\,\rm\color{#0a0} D =$ GCD Distributive Law.

Remark $\ $ If we bring to the fore implicit cofactor reflection symmetry we obtain a simpler proof: $ $ it is easy to show $\,d\,\mapsto\, mn/d\,$ bijects common divisors of $\,m,n\,$ with common multiples $\le mn.$ Being order-$\rm\color{#c00}{reversing}$, it maps the $\rm\color{#c00}{Greatest}$ common divisor to the $\rm\color{#c00}{Least}$ common multiple, i.e. $\,{\rm\color{#c00}{G}CD}(m,n)\,\mapsto\, mn/{\rm GCD}(m,n) = {\rm \color{#c00}{L }CM}(m,n).\,$

See here and here more on this involution (reflection) symmetry at the heart of gcd, lcm duality.

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