A number theory problem by أحمد الحلاق

Find the smallest whole number that when divided by 5, 7, 9, and 11 gives remainders of 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively.


The answer is 1731.

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2 solutions

Chew-Seong Cheong
Sep 17, 2016

The problem can be solved using Chinese remainder theorem as follows. Let the required number be n n , then we have:

n 1 (mod 5) Let n = 5 p + 1 5 p + 1 2 (mod 7) 5 p 1 (mod 7) 5 ( 7 q + 3 ) 1 (mod 7) p = 7 q + 3 35 q + 16 3 (mod 9) q + 7 3 (mod 9) q 4 (mod 9) 9 r + 4 4 (mod 9) q = 9 r + 4 9 r + 3 4 (mod 11) 9 r 1 (mod 11) 9 ( 5 ) 1 (mod 11) r = 5 \begin{aligned} n & \equiv 1 \text{ (mod 5)} & \small \color{#3D99F6}{\text{Let }n = 5p+1} \\ \implies 5p+1 & \equiv 2 \text{ (mod 7)} \\ 5p & \equiv 1 \text{ (mod 7)} \\ 5(7q + 3) & \equiv 1 \text{ (mod 7)} & \small \color{#3D99F6}{\implies p = 7q+3} \\ \implies 35q + 16 & \equiv 3 \text{ (mod 9)} \\ -q + 7 & \equiv 3 \text{ (mod 9)} \\ q & \equiv 4 \text{ (mod 9)} \\ 9r + 4 & \equiv 4 \text{ (mod 9)} & \small \color{#3D99F6}{\implies q = 9r+4} \\ \implies 9r + 3 & \equiv 4 \text{ (mod 11)} \\ 9r & \equiv 1 \text{ (mod 11)} \\ 9(5) & \equiv 1 \text{ (mod 11)} & \small \color{#3D99F6}{\implies r = 5} \end{aligned}

r = 5 q = 9 r + 4 = 49 p = 7 q + 3 = 346 n = 5 p + 1 = 1731 \begin{aligned} \implies r & = 5 \\ q & = 9r+4 = 49 \\ p & = 7q+3 = 346 \\ n & = 5p + 1 = \boxed{1731} \end{aligned}

Prince Loomba
Sep 17, 2016

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