Proof by contradictions Theorem: For all a, b, c in <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathv

varitero5w

varitero5w

Answered question

2022-06-23

Proof by contradictions
Theorem: For all a, b, c in Z Z if a does not divide b c, then a does not divide b or a does not divide c. Prove by contradiction
I know the first step is to flip the theorem to "there exists a,b,c in Z such that a does not divide b c and a divides b and a divides c" but I am lost as to how to continue the proof.

Answer & Explanation

mallol3i

mallol3i

Beginner2022-06-24Added 20 answers

Step 1
"There exists a,b,c in Z such that a does not divide b c and a divides b and a divides c"
That means we can write: b = a q (q and q' are quotients)
c = a q
Step 2
so b c can be written as
a q a q
a ( q q )
a Q ( Q = q q )
which Q is a quotient so a divides b c, which is a contradiction.
To conclude, if a does not divide b c, then a does not divide b or a does not divide c.

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