Math Problem Statement

There exist no integers a and b for which 21a+30b = 1. also explain What's a Diophantine equation?

Solution

You're correct that there are no integers aa and bb for which 21a+30b=121a + 30b = 1. This is because the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 21 and 30 is 3, not 1. For any Diophantine equation of the form ax+by=dax + by = d to have integer solutions, dd must be divisible by the GCD of aa and bb. Since 1 is not divisible by 3, the equation has no integer solutions.

Diophantine Equation:

A Diophantine equation is a type of equation in which only integer solutions are sought. These equations are named after the ancient Greek mathematician Diophantus, who studied them. A linear Diophantine equation has the general form:

ax+by=cax + by = c

where aa, bb, and cc are given integers, and xx and yy are the unknowns. The equation has integer solutions if and only if the greatest common divisor (GCD) of aa and bb divides cc. In other words, GCD(a,b)\text{GCD}(a, b) must be a divisor of cc for integer solutions to exist.

In your example, the GCD of 21 and 30 is 3, and since 1 is not divisible by 3, no integer solution exists for the equation 21a+30b=121a + 30b = 1.

Would you like more details on how to solve Diophantine equations, or have any other questions?

Here are 5 related questions to think about:

  1. How can you find the GCD of two numbers using the Euclidean algorithm?
  2. What if the equation was 21a+30b=321a + 30b = 3? Would it have solutions?
  3. How do you solve a linear Diophantine equation with integer solutions?
  4. What are some practical applications of Diophantine equations in number theory?
  5. What happens if aa and bb are coprime in a Diophantine equation?

Tip: Always check the GCD of the coefficients when determining if a Diophantine equation has integer solutions.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Number Theory
Diophantine Equations
Greatest Common Divisor (GCD)

Formulas

ax + by = c

Theorems

GCD Theorem for Linear Diophantine Equations

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12