Proving gcd(a/gcd(a,b), b/gcd(a,b)) = 1 – Elementary Number Theory

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How would you go about proving that $$\gcd \left(\frac{a}{\gcd (a,b)},\frac{b}{\gcd (a,b)}\right)=1$$

for any two integers $a$ and $b$?

Intuitively it is true because when you divide $a$ and $b$ by $\gcd(a,b)$ you cancel out any common factors between them resulting in them becoming coprime. However, how would you prove this rigorously and mathematically?

Best Answer

Let $d=\gcd(a,b)$. Let $a=md$ and $b=nd$. If some $k\gt 1$ divides $m$ and $n$, then $kd$ divides $a$ and $kd$ divides $b$, contradicting the fact that $d$ is the greatest common divisor of $a$ and $b$.

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