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Co-Prime Numbers Formula: Definition, Properties, Solved Examples

Co-prime numbers consist of pairs of numbers that lack any shared factors except for 1. A co-prime set requires at least two numbers. These numbers share only 1 as their greatest common factor
authorImageAnchal Singh17 Oct, 2023
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Co-Prime Numbers Formula

Co-prime numbers formula consists of pairs of numbers that lack any shared factors except for 1. A co-prime set requires at least two numbers. These numbers share only 1 as their greatest common factor. For instance, examples of co-prime numbers are (4 and 7), and (5, 7, 9). It's important to recognize that co-prime numbers aren't exclusively prime; even composite numbers like 4 and 9 can create a co-prime pair.

What are Co-prime Numbers?

Two numbers, a and b, are considered co-prime if their only shared factor is 1. When the sole common divisor of a and b is 1, they form a co-prime pair, also known as a relatively prime pair.

Co-prime Number Definition

The definition of co-prime numbers states that when the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of two numbers is 1, they are considered co-prime.

Co-prime Number List

Below is the list of a few co-primes for your reference.

Pairs of Co-prime Numbers
(2,15)
(3,8)
(4,9)
(5,6)
(11,14)
(15,19)

How to Find Co-prime Numbers?

To determine the co-primality of any two numbers, we start by calculating their Greatest Common Factor (GCF). If the GCF turns out to be 1, we can conclude that the numbers are co-prime.

For instance:

Example 1: Consider the numbers 5 and 9. The factors of 5 are 1 and 5, while the factors of 9 are 1, 3, and 9. The sole factor common to both 5 and 9 is 1. Therefore, the GCF of (5, 9) is 1, indicating that (5, 9) constitutes a co-prime pair.

Co-Prime Numbers Formula

Example 2: Take the numbers 6 and 10 as an illustration. The factors of 6 encompass 1, 2, 3, and 6, while the factors of 10 encompass 1, 2, 5, and 10. The shared factors between 6 and 10 are solely 1 and 2. Hence, the GCF of (6, 10) is calculated to be 2. As a result, it is evident that (6, 10) does not constitute a co-prime pair.

Also Check – Line and Angles Formula

Properties of Co-prime Numbers Formula

Co-prime numbers can be easily identified using the following properties:

  • The Highest Common Factor (HCF) of two co-prime numbers is always 1. For instance, consider 5 and 9 as co-prime numbers; in this case, HCF(5, 9) = 1.
  • The Least Common Multiple (LCM) of two co-prime numbers is always their product. For example, take 5 and 9 as co-prime numbers, leading to LCM(5, 9) = 45.
  • The number 1 forms a co-prime pair with every other number.
  • Two even numbers cannot be co-prime since they always share 2 as a common factor.
  • The sum of two co-prime numbers is always co-prime with their product. As an illustration, consider co-prime numbers 5 and 9. In this case, 5 + 9 = 14 is co-prime with 5 × 9 = 45.
  • Two prime numbers are inherently co-prime. They only share 1 as a common factor. For example, take 29 and 31; both are prime numbers with no common factors except 1. Thus, they are co-prime. This holds true for other pairs of prime numbers like 2 and 3, 5 and 7, 11 and 13, and so on.
  • All pairs of consecutive numbers are co-prime. Any two consecutive numbers share 1 as their only common factor.

Consider a few pairs of such numbers. Let us try with 14 and 15.

Numbers 14 15
Factors 1,2,7,14 1,3,5,15
Common Factor 1

There are multiple such combinations where 1 is the only common factor.

Co-prime and Twin Prime Numbers

Co-prime numbers are defined by having a Highest Common Factor (HCF) of 1. In contrast, twin prime numbers are prime numbers with a consistent difference of 2. For instance, 3 and 5 are twin prime numbers. Here's a breakdown of the distinctions between co-prime and twin-prime numbers:

  • Twin prime numbers are always prime, whereas co-prime numbers can include both prime and composite numbers.
  • The gap between two twin primes is invariably 2, whereas the gap between two co-primes can vary.
  • Every pair of twin prime numbers is inherently co-prime, but not all co-prime numbers qualify as twin primes.
  • The number 1 forms a co-prime pair with any number, whereas it exclusively forms a twin prime pair with 3

Also Check – Introduction to Graph Formula

Co-prime Numbers 1 to 100

In the range of numbers from 1 to 100, numerous pairs can be identified as co-prime based on the aforementioned properties. A selection of co-prime number pairs existing between 1 and 100 includes (1, 2), (3, 67), (2, 7), (99, 100), (34, 79), (54, 67), (10, 11), and more. Feel free to explore additional sets of co-prime number pairs within this range.

Important Notes

Co-prime numbers are defined by having a Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of 1. This means that if the GCF of any two numbers is 1, those numbers are considered co-prime.

It's important to note that co-prime numbers do not have to be prime numbers themselves. For instance, the numbers 12 and 35 are co-prime, even though neither of them is a prime number.

Tips and Tricks

  • Any two prime numbers are always co-prime.
  • Any two consecutive numbers are always co-prime.
  • The number 1 forms a co-prime pair with any other number.
  • A prime number is co-prime with any number that is not a multiple of it.
  • Two even numbers are never co-prime due to their common factor of 2.

Also Check – Solid Shapes Formula

Co-Prime Numbers Formula Examples

Example 1: Demonstrate that 161 and 192 are co-prime numbers.

Solution:

To establish this, we'll determine the Highest Common Factor (HCF) of the provided numbers 161 and 192 using the division method.

Co-Prime Numbers Formula

Example 2: If 59 and 97 are co-prime, what is their Highest Common Factor (HCF)?

Solution:

Given that 59 and 97 are co-prime, they do not share any common factors except for 1. Consequently, their Highest Common Factor (HCF) is 1.

Example 3: Determine the accuracy of the following statements regarding co-prime numbers.

a.) Co-prime numbers need not necessarily be prime numbers.

b.) Two even numbers are always co-prime.

Solution:

a.) True. Co-prime numbers can include both prime and composite numbers.

b.) False. Two even numbers are never co-prime due to their shared factor of 2.

Co-Prime Numbers Formula FAQs

Define the term, Co-prime Numbers.

Coprime numbers are defined as numbers that share no factors apart from 1. They create a number pair that doesn't have to be exclusively composed of prime numbers. For instance, the set (6, 35) comprises coprime numbers, despite both 6 and 35 being composite numbers.

Explain the difference between Prime and Co-prime Numbers.

A prime number is a numerical value with precisely two factors: 1 and the number itself. Examples include 2, 3, 7, 11, and so forth. On the other hand, co-prime numbers consist of number pairs that have a Highest Common Factor (HCF) of 1. As an illustration, (4, 9) are co-prime due to their sole shared factor being 1.

What are the steps involved in finding the Co-prime of a Number?

The Highest Common Factor (HCF) of co-prime numbers is always 1. This implies that to identify a co-prime number for a given number, it's adequate to discover a number that is NOT divisible by any factors of the given number. Consider the example of the number 12. To find a co-prime number for 12, you can choose 5, as 5 is not divisible by any factors of 12 apart from 1. Consequently, the pair (5, 12) constitutes co-prime numbers.

What will be the HCF of Two Co-prime numbers?

The Highest Common Factor (HCF) of two co-prime numbers is invariably 1 since these numbers share only the factor 1 in common.
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