Exercise · ZW-EXTENDED-EUCLIDEAN-ALGORITHM-001 · ★☆☆ Basic

What does the extended Euclidean algorithm guarantee at termination?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • D. A pair of integers \(x,y\) with \(ax+by=\gcd(a,b)\)

Explanation

The algorithm returns Bézout coefficients for the greatest common divisor. The option about counting steps yields no linear combination.

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Review the concept: Extended Euclidean algorithm

The extended Euclidean algorithm computes \(d=\gcd(a,b)\) and integers \(x\), \(y\) such that \(ax+by=d\). It is the Euclidean algorithm that also tracks the Bézout coefficients.

\[r_k=r_{k-2}-q_{k-1}r_{k-1}\\s_k=s_{k-2}-q_{k-1}s_{k-1}\\t_k=t_{k-2}-q_{k-1}t_{k-1}\]

More practice problems: extended euclidean algorithm

ZW-EXTENDED-EUCLIDEAN-ALGORITHM-002 →