MathDB
Problem 3 - Greatest Common Divisor

Source: 2020 Austrian National Competition for Advanced Students, Part 1 problem 3

June 6, 2020
combinatoricsgreatest common divisorAustria

Problem Statement

On a blackboard there are three positive integers. In each step the three numbers on the board are denoted as a,b,ca, b, c such that a>gcd(b,c)a >gcd(b, c), then aa gets replaced by agcd(b,c) a-gcd(b, c). The game ends if there is no way to denote the numbers such that a>gcd(b,c)a >gcd(b, c).
Prove that the game always ends and that the last three numbers on the blackboard only depend on the starting numbers.
(Theresia Eisenkölbl)