Monday, 20 October 2025

Exercise (1.3).4

Find integers $x$ and $y$ in each of the following cases:

(i) $314x + 785y= 157$

(ii) $314x + 785y= 314$

(iii) $314x + 785y= −1570$


(i) The gcd of 214 and 785 is conveniently 157.  This means we can divide through by 157 to give

$ 2x + 5y = 1$

By inspection we have $x=3, y=-1$.


(ii) 314 is $2 \times \gcd(314,785)$. 

$ 314x + 785y = 2 \times 157 $

$ 2x + 5y = 2 $

Since we have $ 2(3) + 5(-1) = 1$, we can see

$ 2(2 \times 3) + 5(2 \times -1) = 2 $

So a solution is $x = 6, y=-2$


(iii) -1570 is $-10 \times \gcd(314, 785)$. 

Since we have $ 2(3) + 5(-1) = 1$, we can see

$ 2(-10 \times 3) + 5(-10 \times -1) = -10 $

So a solution is $x = 30, y=10$