document.write( "Question 576746: GCF (a,b)=4 and LCM (a,b)=96
\n" ); document.write( "Find all pairs of whole numbers a and b for which both statements are true, and show how to get them.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #369979 by richard1234(7193)\"\" \"About 
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Since a and b are factors of 96, we can let\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Also note that 96 = (2^5)(3^1) and 4 = (2^2)(3^0). From the given information we can conclude that:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "at least one of m or p is 5
\n" ); document.write( "at least one of n or q is 1
\n" ); document.write( "at least one of m or p is 2
\n" ); document.write( "at least one of n or q is 0\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The first two statements come from the fact that the LCM of two numbers a and b is computed by taking the highest exponent for each prime factor of a and b. Similar for GCF. However, we have two known values for m and p, and two known values for n and q. We can use casework to find all possible pairs {a,b}.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "m = 5, n = 1 --> p = 2, q = 0 --> a = 96, b = 4
\n" ); document.write( "m = 5, n = 0 --> p = 2, q = 1 --> a = 32, b = 12
\n" ); document.write( "m = 2, n = 1 --> p = 5, q = 0 --> a = 12, b = 32
\n" ); document.write( "m = 2, n = 0 --> p = 5, q = 1 --> a = 4, b = 96\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Therefore the only ordered pairs {a,b} are {96,4}, {32,12}, {12,32}, and {4,96}.
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