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coprime
Sign in to saveAlso known as relatively prime, coprime integers
two numbers whose only common factor is 1
Two numbers are coprime when the only number that divides evenly into both of them is 1. Coprime numbers are useful in mathematics because they have special properties that make certain calculations simpler, such as in cryptography and number theory.
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In number theory, two integers a and b are coprime, relatively prime or mutually prime if the only positive integer that is a divisor of both of them is 1. Consequently, any prime number that divides a does not divide b, and vice versa. This is equivalent to their greatest common divisor (GCD) being 1. One says also a is prime to b or a is coprime with b.
The numbers 8 and 9 are coprime, despite the fact that neither—considered individually—is a prime number, since 1 is their only common divisor. On the other hand, 6 and 9 are not coprime, because they are both divisible by 3. The numerator and denominator of a reduced fraction are coprime, by definition.