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In mathematics, the greatest common divisor (GCD), also known as greatest common factor (GCF), of two or more integers, which are not all zero, is the largest positive integer that divides each of the integers. For two integers x, y, the greatest common divisor of x and y is denoted (,).
The greatest common divisor g is the largest natural number that divides both a and b without leaving a remainder. Synonyms for GCD include greatest common factor (GCF), highest common factor (HCF), highest common divisor (HCD), and greatest common measure (GCM).
In algebra, the greatest common divisor (frequently abbreviated as GCD) of two polynomials is a polynomial, of the highest possible degree, that is a factor of both the two original polynomials. This concept is analogous to the greatest common divisor of two integers.
Visualisation of using the binary GCD algorithm to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 36 and 24. Thus, the GCD is 2 2 × 3 = 12.. The binary GCD algorithm, also known as Stein's algorithm or the binary Euclidean algorithm, [1] [2] is an algorithm that computes the greatest common divisor (GCD) of two nonnegative integers.
Gauss's lemma underlies all the theory of factorization and greatest common divisors of such polynomials. Gauss's lemma asserts that the product of two primitive polynomials is primitive. (A polynomial with integer coefficients is primitive if it has 1 as a greatest common divisor of its coefficients. [note 2])
Any two elements of a UFD have a greatest common divisor and a least common multiple. Here, a greatest common divisor of a and b is an element d that divides both a and b, and such that every other common divisor of a and b divides d. All greatest common divisors of a and b are associated. Any UFD is integrally closed.
As an example, the greatest common divisor of 15 and 69 is 3, and 3 can be written as a combination of 15 and 69 as 3 = 15 × (−9) + 69 × 2, with Bézout coefficients −9 and 2. Many other theorems in elementary number theory, such as Euclid's lemma or the Chinese remainder theorem , result from Bézout's identity.
Lowest common factor may refer to the following mathematical terms: Greatest common divisor, also known as the greatest common factor; Least common multiple;