# Common Divisor Divides Difference

## Theorem

Let $c$ be a common divisor of two integers $a$ and $b$.

That is:

$a, b, c \in \Z: c \divides a \land c \divides b$

Then:

$c \divides \paren {a - b}$

## Proof 1

Let $c \divides a \land c \divides b$.

$\forall p, q \in \Z: c \divides \paren {p a + q b}$

Putting $p = 1$ and $q = -1$:

$c \divides \paren {a - b}$

$\blacksquare$

## Proof 2

 $\ds c$ $\divides$ $\ds a$ $\ds \leadsto \ \$ $\, \ds \exists x \in \Z: \,$ $\ds a$ $=$ $\ds x c$ Definition of Divisor of Integer $\ds c$ $\divides$ $\ds b$ $\ds \leadsto \ \$ $\, \ds \exists y \in \Z: \,$ $\ds b$ $=$ $\ds y c$ Definition of Divisor of Integer $\ds \leadsto \ \$ $\ds a - b$ $=$ $\ds x c - y c$ substituting for $a$ and $b$ $\ds$ $=$ $\ds \paren {x - y} c$ Integer Multiplication Distributes over Addition $\ds \leadsto \ \$ $\, \ds \exists z \in \Z: \,$ $\ds a - b$ $=$ $\ds z c$ where $z = x - y$ $\ds \leadsto \ \$ $\ds c$ $\divides$ $\ds \paren {a - b}$ Definition of Divisor of Integer

$\blacksquare$