# Another GCD problem

• November 17th 2013, 07:01 AM
RuyHayabusa
Another GCD problem
prove that gcd(((a^m)-1)/(a-1));(a-1))=((a-1);m)

Help would be really appreciated.
• November 17th 2013, 08:03 AM
topsquark
Re: Another GCD problem
Quote:

Originally Posted by RuyHayabusa
prove that gcd(((a^m)-1)/(a-1));(a-1))=((a-1);m)

Help would be really appreciated.

Please show us what you've been able to do so far.

-Dan
• November 18th 2013, 07:00 AM
Idea
Re: Another GCD problem
First prove then use the following

$a^m = 1 + \sum _{k=1}^m c_k (a-1)^k$

where the $c_k$ are integers
• November 21st 2013, 05:44 AM
RuyHayabusa
Re: Another GCD problem
I've finally solved it using Bezout's theorem.
• November 22nd 2013, 08:27 AM
Idea
Re: Another GCD problem
I would like to see a solution of this problem using Bezout's theorem.

Here is a reference to Bezout's theorem as seen in Wikipedia

Bézout's theorem - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

.....X and Y are two algebraic curves in the Euclidean plane whose implicit equations are polynomials of degrees m and n without any non-constant common factor, then the number of intersection points does not exceed mn.

Thanks