# Euler-phi function is multiplicative if coprime

## Statement

### Verbal statement

The Euler-phi function is multiplicative on coprime natural numbers.

### Statement with symbols

For any natural numbers $m,n$ that are coprime to each other, $\varphi(mn)=\varphi(m)\varphi(n)$.

## Proof

Given:

$m,n$
coprime positive integers


To prove: $\varphi(mn)=\varphi(m)\varphi(n)$ Proof: Consider a finite cyclic group G of order $mn$. Denote by $A,B,C$ the set of all elements in G that have orders $m,n,mn$ respectively. We will show that $|C|=|A||B|$.
Define a map $\phi : A \times B \rightarrow C$ by $\phi((g,h))=gh$. Since the order of $g$ and $h$ are coprime, and $G$ is abelian, their product $gh$ must have order $mn$, so this map is well-defined. If $\phi((g_1,h_1))=\phi((g_2,h_2))$ then $g_1h_1=g_2h_2$, or equivalently, $g_2^{-1}g_1=h_2h_1^{-1}$. They are elements of subgroups of coprime orders that must intersect trivially. So, $g_1=g_2$ and $h_1=h_2$, the map is injective. Thus, $|A \times B| \le |C|$.
Define another map $\psi : C \rightarrow A \times B$ by $\psi(k)=(k^{n},k^{m})$. If $\psi(k)=\psi(l)$ then $k^{n}=l^{n}$ and $k ^ m = l ^ m$. Suppose $k=ul$. Then $k ^ m = u ^ m l ^ m = u ^ m k ^ m$. Therefore $u ^ m = e$. Similarly, $u ^ n = e$. So, $m$ and $n$ must have a common divisor which is the order of $u$. Thus, $u=e$. Hence our map is again injective, so $|C| \le |A \times B|$.
Therefore, $|C|=|A \times B|=|A||B|$, as desired.