TITLE: Prove $\gcd(a+b,a^2+b^2)$ is $1$ or $2$ if $\gcd(a,b) = 1$
QUESTION [14 upvotes]: Assuming that $\gcd(a,b) = 1$, prove that $\gcd(a+b,a^2+b^2) = 1$ or $2$.

I tried this problem and ended up with
$$d\mid 2a^2,\quad d\mid 2b^2$$
where $d = \gcd(a+b,a^2+b^2)$, but then I am stuck; by these two conclusions how can I conclude $d=1$ or $2$? 
And also is there any other way of proving this result?

REPLY [4 votes]: Since $\text{gcd}(a,b) = 1$, we have that there exists $x,y \in \mathbb{Z}$ such that $$ax+by = 1$$ Hence, we have that $$(a+b)x + b(y-x) = 1$$ and $$a(x-y) + (a+b)y = 1$$
Squaring and adding the two equations, we get that $$(a+b)^2 x^2 + b^2(y-x)^2 + 2b(a+b)x(y-x) + (a+b)^2 y^2 + a^2(x-y)^2 + 2a(a+b)y(x-y) = 2$$
Rearranging the above equation, we get that
$$(a+b) \left( (a+b) (x^2+y^2) + 2 (x-y) (ay-bx) \right) + (a^2 + b^2)(x-y)^2 = 2$$
Hence, we have that $$(a+b) X + (a^2 + b^2) Y =2$$
where $X = \left( (a+b) (x^2+y^2) + 2 (x-y) (ay-bx) \right)$ and $Y = (x-y)^2$. This implies that $\text{gcd}(a,b) \vert 2$.
Hence, $$\text{gcd}(a,b) = 1 \text{ or } 2$$