it can just be a common multiple not a "integer multiple"
In the second answer of the given link (
https://math.stackexchange.com/ques...a-b-times-operatornamelcm-a-b-a/349953#349953)
By the minimality of the lcm,
ab/gcd(a,b) ≥ lcm(a,b)
What is the minimality they are saying ?
They are implying that LCM is the minimum no . something like that?
And ab/GCD gives a no which should be at least equal or greater than LCM.
They cannot directly say it can be equal to LCM as they are trying to prove that only.
Because ab and lcm(a,b) are common multiples of a and b, so is r. By the minimality of the lcm, r=0. Therefore, lcm(a,b) divides ab.
The way they have presented their flow of logic is actually quite the opposite I was thinking.
I was thinking this way
As I am writing this-> ab= q*LCM(a,b)+r
0<_ r < LCM (a,b)
I know that as LCM(a,b) and product of a and b are both Common multiples of a and b so I should get r =0 upon dividing ab/LCM as a*b is also a multiple of lcm(a,b) .
And as r=0 (0 is a mutliple of every integr)so I know that r is a common multiple of a and b.
But here one can say that then LCM must be 0 as it is the least. So to avoid it I can say that "Any common Multiple of a and b € N"
Natural no.
I am not sure!
If u compare my flow of thinking with them it's actually the opposite.
Their flow of thinking is
R is a common multiple of a and b then r=0 then LCM divides ab
My thinking is LCM divides ab ; then r=0 then R is a common multiple of a and b
What am I missing.