For certain ordered pairs of real numbers, the system of equations above has at least one solution, and each solution is an ordered pair of integers. How many such ordered pairs are there?
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There are 12 pairs ordered pairs of integers on the circle namely ( ± 1 , ± 7 ) , ( ± 7 , ± 1 ) , ( ± 5 , ± 5 ) . We can draw a tangent on each of these points, so we have n = 1 2 ordered pairs of ( a , b ) for each of these tangents, since a x + b y = 1 represents all possible lines in the plane, except those of the form y = m x and x = 0 . Next, we can draw a line joining any 2 of the 1 2 points and since no 3 points are collinear, all these lines will be distinct. So we have ( 2 n ) such lines and thus ordered pairs ( a , b ) . However, any line joining a point P and its reflection over the origin will pass through the origin and thus become of the form y = m x , which isn't allowed. There are 2 n such lines. So the final answer is n + ( 2 n ) − 2 n = 7 2 .