Euclidean algorithm
The most effective way to find the greatest common factor of two numbers is Euclidean algorithm, which consists of a series of division with remainder until the remainder is zero. Before describing the general method, we use an example to illustrate:
We calculategcd(36,132)The first step is132divide36Get quotient3And remainder24。 We write it down as
132 = 3·36 +24
The second step is to take36, using the remainder of the previous step24divide36have to
36 = 1·24 +12
Next, use12divide24Find the remainder0
24 = 2·12 + 0
Euclidean algorithm shows that when we get the remainder0Then the remainder of the previous step is the greatest common factor of the first two numbersgcd(132,36)=12
Pay attention to how to count at each stepAdivideBGet quotientQSum remainderRIn other words,
A = Q·B +R
Then count it in the next stepBAndRReplace the originalAAndBContinue the process until you get the remainder0until. At this point, the remainder of the previous stepRIs the greatest common factor of the first two numbers.
Euclidean algorithm: to calculate two numbersaAndbThe greatest common factor of, shillingsr_{-1}=a,r_0=bAnd then calculate the successive quotient and remainder
r_{i-1}=q_{i-1}·r_{i}+r_{i-1}(i = 0,1,2,…)
Until some remainderr_{n+1}by0。 The last nonzero remainderr_nnamelyaAndbMaximum common factor of
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