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In my number theory notes, I come across a theorem that if $m,n$ are co-prime integers, then the divisors of $mn$ are of the form $d_1d_2$, where $d_1 | m$ and $d_2 | n$.

Later in the notes, the author states that for $d_1d_2|mn$ that $\gcd(\frac {m} {d_1} , \frac {n} {d_2})=1$. I'm trying to figure out why this is the case.

If $p$ is a prime number dividing $m/d_1$ and $n/d_2$, then I should find some contradiction, hints appreciated.

Bill Dubuque
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2 Answers2

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If $(m,n)=1$, there are integers $x, y$ such that $mx+ny =1$. Then

$$\frac{m}{d_1}(d_1x) + \frac{n}{d_2}(d_2y) =1.$$

Since $d_1x$ and $d_2y$ are integers, you have your result.

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The OP essentially asserts that divisors of coprimes remain coprime - which is the special case below where $\,(m,n) = 1,\,$ with the divisors $\,\bar m = m/d_1,\,\ \bar n = n/d_2,\, $ of $\,m,n$.

Lemma $\ \begin{align} \bar m &\mid m\\ \bar n &\mid n\end{align}$ $\Rightarrow\, (\bar m ,\bar n )\mid (m,n),\ \ $ where $\ (x,y) :=\gcd(x,y)$

Proof $\ \ \ \begin{align}&(\bar m ,\bar n )\mid \bar m \mid m\\ &(\bar m ,\bar n )\mid \bar n \,\mid n\end{align}\Rightarrow\, (\bar m ,\bar n )\mid (m,n)\ $ by the GCD Universal Property, i.e.

$$ c\mid a,b\iff c\mid (a,b)\qquad$$

Remark $ $ This universal property is the definition of GCD in more general rings where the Bezout identity need not hold true, e.g. in the polynomial UFD rings $\,\Bbb Z[x]\,$ and $\,\Bbb Q[x,y]\,$ where the gcds $\,(x,2) = 1 = (x,y)\,$ cannot be written as Bezout linear combinations. There the above proof still works, but Bezout-based proofs do not.


The theorem that you mention follows immediately from a more general fundamental property $$\ a\mid BC\:\Rightarrow a=bc,\ b\mid B,\ c\mid C$$ This goes by many names, e.g. Euler's four number theorem (Vierzahlensatz), Schreier refinement, Riesz interpolation, etc. For much further discussion of this and related factorization concepts see this answer.

Bill Dubuque
  • 272,048