Exercise · ZW-BEZOUT-S-IDENTITY-002 · ★★☆ Intermediate
What is the smallest positive integer that can be written as \( 12x+18y \) with \( x,y\in\mathbb{Z} \)?
Choose one option.
Show answer
- C. 6
Explanation
The smallest positive value is \( \gcd(12,18)=6 \). The option of 36 corresponds to the least common multiple, not the greatest common divisor.
Review the concept: Bézout's identity
Bézout's identity states that, for integers \( a \) and \( b \) not both zero, there exist integers \( x \) and \( y \) such that \( ax+by=\gcd(a,b) \).
\[ax+by=\gcd(a,b) \text{ for some } x,y\in\mathbb{Z}\]
More practice problems: bézout's identity
- ZW-BEZOUT-S-IDENTITY-001 State Bézout's identity for two integers a and b .
- ZW-BEZOUT-S-IDENTITY-003 Give the greatest common divisor of 35 and 14 to use in Bézout's identity.
- ZW-BEZOUT-S-IDENTITY-004 Does Bézout's identity say that ax+by can equal any integer when a and b are coprime?
- ZW-BEZOUT-S-IDENTITY-005 Which statement about the set \ax+by : x,y∈ℤ\ is correct?
- ZW-BEZOUT-S-IDENTITY-006 If gcd(a,b)=d , which of these equations has an integer solution x,y for every such a and b ?
- ZW-BEZOUT-S-IDENTITY-007 For a=30 and b=12 , which pair (x,y) satisfies 30x+12y=6 ?
- ZW-BEZOUT-S-IDENTITY-008 Can 8x+12y equal 2 for some integers x,y ?
- ZW-BEZOUT-S-IDENTITY-009 For a=252 and b=198 , with gcd=18 , which pair (x,y) satisfies 252x+198y=18 ?