# Math Help - GCD

1. ## GCD

Assuming gcd(a,b)=1, prove that gcd(a+b, a^2+b^2)=1 or 2

So far I know a^2 + b^2= (a+b)(a-b)+2b^2

2. Let $d$ be a (positive) common divider of $a^2+b^2$ and of $a+b$. You wrote $a^2+b^2=(a+b)(a-b)+2b^2$, so $d$ divides both the left-hand side and the first term on the right side, which implies that $d|2b^2$ as well.

Suppose $2$ does not divide $d$. Then $2$ and $d$ are relatively prime (using the fact that $2$ is prime), so that $d|b^2$. Remembering that $d|a^2+b^2$, we deduce $d|a^2$. So $d|b^2$ and $d|a^2$. However, $a$ and $b$ are relatively prime, so that $a^2$ and $b^2$ are relatively prime as well, and their only positive common divider is 1. So $d=1$.

Suppose now that $2$ divides $d$. Then, letting $d=2 d'$, we have $d'|b^2$ and $d'|d|a^2+b^2$, so $d'|a^2$. Again, because $\gcd(a^2,b^2)=1$, we get $d'=1$, so that $d=2$.

We have shown that the only common dividers $d$ of $a^2+b^2$ and $a+b$ are either $1$ or $2$. This implies that $\gcd(a^2+b^2,a+b)$ is either 1 or 2.

This was a nice problem, thank you
Laurent.