A instrument using the Euclidean algorithm determines the best widespread divisor (GCD) of two integers. For instance, given the numbers 56 and 70, such a instrument would systematically decide their GCD to be 14. It operates by repeatedly making use of the division algorithm, subtracting the smaller quantity from the bigger till one of many numbers turns into zero. The final non-zero the rest is the GCD.
This technique affords an environment friendly pathway to discovering the GCD, a elementary idea in quantity idea with wide-ranging functions in fields like cryptography and pc science. Relationship again to historic Greece, its longevity speaks to its elementary significance in arithmetic. This foundational algorithm underpins numerous trendy computational processes.
