The smallest positive integer

Find the smallest positive integer N N having the following properties:

I. When N N is divided by 3 the remainder is 1;
II. When N N is divided by 5 the remainder is 2;
III. When N N is divided by 7 the remainder is 3;
IV. When N N is divided by 9 the remainder is 4.


The answer is 157.

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3 solutions

The numbers that satisfy condition IV form a proper subset of those that satisfy condition I, so we can just focus on the last three conditions.

Now to satisfy conditions II and III we are looking for integers m , n m,n such that

5 m + 2 = 7 n + 3 5 m 7 n = 1 , 5m + 2 = 7n + 3 \Longrightarrow 5m - 7n = 1,

the least of which are m = 3 , n = 2. m = 3, n = 2. Thus N = 17 + 35 k N = 17 + 35k for some integer k . k.

To satisfy conditions III and IV we are looking for integers m , n m,n such that

7 m + 3 = 9 n + 4 7 m 9 n = 1 , 7m + 3 = 9n + 4 \Longrightarrow 7m - 9n = 1,

the least of which are m = 4 , n = 3. m = 4, n = 3. Thus N = 31 + 63 j N = 31 + 63j for some integer j . j.

we are thus looking for j , k j,k that satisfy

17 + 35 k = 31 + 63 j 35 k 63 j = 14 5 k 9 j = 2 , 17 + 35k = 31 + 63j \Longrightarrow 35k - 63j = 14 \Longrightarrow 5k - 9j = 2,

the least of which is k = 4 , j = 2 , k = 4, j = 2, yielding N = 17 + 35 4 = 157 . N = 17 + 35*4 = \boxed{157}.

Great solution; just to note, you have said "To satisfy conditions II and III" twice by accident.

Luke Johnson-Davies - 5 years, 6 months ago

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Thanks for catching that. The edit has been made. :)

Brian Charlesworth - 5 years, 6 months ago
. .
Feb 14, 2021

Let the natural number which will be multiplied by each number, 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 3, 5, 7, 9 to a a .

Then N = 3 a + 1 = 5 a + 2 = 7 a + 3 = 9 a + 4 N = 3a+1 = 5a+2 = 7a+3 = 9a+4 .

If N N is the multiplier of the upper expressions or can be divided by 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 3, 5, 7, 9 , then it cannot satisfy the problem.

Then let's just find the number.

9 a + 4 9a+4 always satisfies that the expression, 3 a + 1 3a+1 because 9 × 5 + 1 = 46 = 3 × 15 + 1 9 \times 5 + 1 = 46 = 3 \times 15 + 1 , always satisfies.

Then we can just ignore it.

N = 5 a + 2 = 7 a + 3 = 9 a + 4 N = 5a + 2 = 7a + 3 = 9a + 4 .

The smallest positive integer N N is 157 \boxed{157} because 157 = 5 × 31 + 2 = 7 × 22 + 3 = 9 × 17 + 4 157 = 5 \times 31 + 2 = 7 \times 22 + 3 = 9 \times 17 + 4 .

Hence, the answer is 157 \boxed{157} .

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