Proposition 23

If two numbers are relatively prime, then any number which measures one of them is relatively prime to the remaining number.

Let A and B be two numbers relatively prime, and let any number C measure A.

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I say that C and B are also relatively prime.

If C and B are not relatively prime, then some number D measures C and B.

VII.Def.12

Since D measures C, and C measures A, therefore D also measures A. But it also measures B, therefore D measures A and B which are relatively prime, which is impossible.

Therefore no number measures the numbers C and B. Therefore C and B are relatively prime.

Therefore, if two numbers are relatively prime, then any number which measures one of them is relatively prime to the remaining number.

Q.E.D.

Guide

The proof of this proposition is straightforward.

Use of this proposition

This proposition is used in the proof of the next one.