Tuesday, 14 October 2025

Exercise (1.1).15

Let $a \mid (b + c)$ and $a \mid b$. Show that $a \mid c$.


We're given

$$b+c = am$$

$$b = an$$

for some integers $m,n$.

Substituting for $b$ in the first equation we have

$$(ab) + c = am$$

Re-arranging,

$$c = a(m-b)$$

That is, $a \mid b$.