• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

We investigate a method to find the least common multiples of numbers in the mathematics book GuIlJib(구일집(九一集), 1724) written by the greatest mathematician Hong Jung Ha(홍정하(洪正夏), 1684~?) in Chosun dynasty and then show his achievement on Number Theory. He first noticed that for the greatest common divisor d and the least common multiple l of two natural numbers a, b, l = $a\frac{b}{d}$ = $b\frac{a}{d}$ and $\frac{a}{d}$, $\frac{b}{d}$ are relatively prime and then obtained that for natural numbers $a_1,\;a_2,{\ldots},a_n$, their greatest common divisor D and least common multiple L, $\frac{ai}{D}$($1{\leq}i{\leq}n$) are relatively prime and there are relatively prime numbers $c_i(1{\leq}i{\leq}n)$ with L = $a_ic_i(1{\leq}i{\leq}n)$. The result is one of the most prominent mathematical results Number Theory in Chosun dynasty. The purpose of this paper is to show a process for Hong Jung Ha to capture and reveal a mathematical structure in the theory.