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Why is the earlier remainder 5 chosen as the answer once the new remainder is 0?

Once the new remainder is 0, the division is exact, meaning the current divisor perfectly divides the previous dividend. The algorithm's termination rule states that the greatest common divisor of the original pair is the last nonzero remainder, which is the divisor of this final exact division. Therefore, 5 is selected as the gcd⁡(10,45)\gcd(10,45).

Conditions

  • The Euclidean algorithm has been applied to two positive integers.
  • A division step has produced a remainder of 0.
  • The inputs are 10 and 45.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Perform the division steps until a remainder of 0 is reached.
  2. Identify the equation where the remainder is 0: 10=5⋅2+010 = 5 \cdot 2 + 0.
  3. Look at the divisor in that specific equation, which is 5.
  4. Recognize that this divisor is the preceding nonzero remainder from the previous step.
  5. Conclude that 5 is the greatest common divisor of the original numbers.

Example

The board shows 10=5×2+010 = 5 \times 2 + 0, and the earlier remainder 5 is boxed. The narration selects the preceding nonzero remainder after the new remainder becomes zero.

Common misconceptions

  • Choosing the remainder 0 as the greatest common divisor.
  • Choosing the quotient 2 as the greatest common divisor.
  • Believing the algorithm must continue indefinitely even after reaching a zero remainder.

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