SIMPLE EQUATIONS

#POST1
Equations: Intro
An equation is a polynomial separated by an equal to sign.
4x = 12
4 +x = 10,
7 – 2x = 5
3x + 4y is not an equation, it’s an expression.
3x + 4y =0 is an equation.
Consistent System : At least one solution, so it may have one solution or more than one
solution, even infinite number of solutions.
Inconsistent System : No solution.
Ax+By = C
Dx+Ey = F
If A/D = B/E and they are not equal to C/F, then the equations are inconsistent that is no
solution
In all other cases, the equations will be consistent that is there will be at least one solution
If A/D = B/E = C/F, then there are infinite solutions as the two equations are basically same
If A/D is not equal to B/E, then there will be a unique solution
If A/D is not equal to B/E, but A/D is equal to C/F, then y =0
If A/D is not equal to B/E, but B/E is equal to C/F, then x =0

Examples:
x + y= 10 and 2x + 2y = 25: No solution
6x + 7y = 8 and 19x + 14y = 16: Unique solution and x=0 and y = 8/7.

Select one of the choice for each of the below:

No solution
Infinite solution
Unique solution
More than one but not infinite solution
├ █(5x+27=16 and 7x-4y=12)}

├ █(5x+27=16 and 3x+6/5 y=2)}

├ █(5x+2y=16 and 15/2 x+3y=24)}

SOLUTION (A) 5/7≠2/(-4)
∴ The system of equations has unique solution.
(B) 5/3=2/(6/5)≠16/2
⇒ 5/3=5/3≠8/1
∴ The system of equations has no solution.
(C) 5/(15/2)=2/3=16/24
⇒ 2/3=2/3=2/3
∴ The system of equations has infinite number of solution.

Examples:
In the following equations what value should p take for the equation to be consistent?
2x + 7y = 115
Px + 42 y = 690

As 7/42= 115/690=1/6, therefore 2/P=1/6 OR P=12.

For how many values of the p will the following equations have a unique solution?
5x + 6y = 110
15x + 21y = P

Since 5/15≠6/21, therefore all values of P.

For how many values of P will the equation have a unique solution?
6x + 11y = 68
12x + py = 136

#POST2
Numbers 1: 2 DIGIT
A two digit number xy can be expressed as 10x + y
Its reverse will be 10y+x
Difference = 10x + y – (10y+x) = 9(x-y) or 9(y-x) depending on whether the number if bigger or
its reverse is bigger
So the Difference of the number and reverse is always divisible by 9 and the difference of these
two numbers is exactly the product of the difference of the two digits and 9
Sum = 10x + y + (10y+x) = 11(x+y)
Sum of the original number and this resultant number is always divisible by 11. Also the sum of
these two numbers is exactly the product of the sum of the two digits with 11.
Example:
Sum of a 2 digit number and reverse is 88 and difference is 54. Find the 2 digit number.
So 11x+11y = 88 and 9(x-y) = 54
So x+y =8 and x-y = 6
Adding the 2 equations answer is x =7 and y =1
So the number is 71
However this answer is not completely correct
The question did not mention which is the bigger number; original or reverse. So the answer
can be 71 or 17
For example: difference of a 2 digit number and its reverse is 72. How many such numbers can
be there?
Now the question does not specify which one is bigger so we have to take both the cases. 9(x-
y) = 72 and 9(y-x) = 72..so x-y = 8 or y-x =8
So possible values for the original 2 digit numbers can be 91, 80 and 19. It can’t be 08 as the
original number is 2 digit number
Example: Sum of a 2 digit number and reverse is 77 and difference is 36. Find the 2 digit
number.
11x+11y = 77 so x+y =7
9(x-y) = 36 so x-y =4
This can never give an integer value for x and y
So if the sum is even, the difference must be even and if the sum is odd the difference must be
odd

Answer the following questions:

1) A 2 digit number when reversed and subtracted from the original number gives a square
number. How many such numbers are possible?

2) Difference between a 2digit number and its reverse is a multiple of 18. How many such
numbers are possible?

Oa
Answer for the 1st question: 1) Difference between a digit number ab and its reverse ba=9(b-a).
Therefore b-a is a square number. Therefore b-a can be 1 or 4 or 9. Therefore possible values
of a and b
1,2
2,3
3,4
4,5
5,6
6,7
7,8
8,9
1,5
2,6
3,7
4,8
5,9

Answer for the 2nd ques: 2) Multiple of 18 means the difference can be 18,36,54,72 or 90. It
cannot be more than 90 as the numbers are 2 digit numbers. Therefore (a-b) or (b-a)= 2 or 4 or
6 or 8 or 10. Possible values of a and b:
2,0
1,3
3,1
2,4
4,2
3,5
5,3
4,6
6,4
5,7
7,5
6,8
8,6
7,9
9,7
4,0
1,5
5,1
2,6
6,2
3,7
7,3
4,8
8,4
5,9
9,5
6,0
1,7
7,1
2,8
8,2
3,9
9,3
8,0
1,9
9,1
There are 36 such numbers
#POST3
Numbers 2: Three digit numbers
A 3 digit number xyz = 100x + 10y +z
Reverse = 100z + 10y + x
Difference = 99(x-z) or 99(z-x)
Sum = 101x + 20y + 101z
So there is no pattern for the sum but the difference is always divisible by 99. Also the
difference of these two numbers (i.e., original and resultant number) is exactly equal to the
product of the difference of unit and hundreds digit, with 99, i.e., xyz – zyx = 99(x – z)
Example 1: Difference of a 3 digit number and its reverse is lies between 700 and 800. How
many such numbers are possible?

Explanation: Let the number be abc= 100a+10b+c

Therefore reverse= cba=100c+10b+a
Difference = 99(a-c) or 99(c-a)
Since the difference lies between 700 and 800 and is a multiple of 99, the only possible value of
the difference is 792
Therefore (a-c) or (c-a) =8
Possible values of a and c:
1,9
9,1
8,0

Now b can taken any value from 0-9, i.e. 10 possible values for b in each of the above
mentioned 3 cases
Therefore possible numbers = 10x3=30

Example 2: When a 3 digit number is subtracted from its reverse the result is divisible by 297.
How many such numbers are possible?

Explanation: Let the number be abc= 100a+10b+c

Therefore reverse= cba=100c+10b+a
Difference =99(c-a) =297
Therefore (c-a)=3
Possible values of a and c=
1,4
2,5
3,6
4,7
5,8
6,9
Now b can taken any value from 0-9, i.e. 10 possible values for b in each of the above
mentioned 6 cases
Therefore possible numbers = 10x6=60
Example3: When a 3 digit number is added to its reverse the result is a 3 digit number of the
form aaa. How many such numbers are possible?

Explanation: 3 digit numbers of the form aaa are 111,222,333,444,555...999.

Sum of a 3 digit number and its reverse will be of the form 101(a+c)+20b, where the number is
abc or cba
With trial and error we can see no combinations exist for odd numbers like 111,333 etc
For even numbers:
222= 101(a+c)+20b, therefore (a+c)=2 and b=1. Possible numbers 210, 111
444= 101(a+c)+20b, therefore (a+c)=4 and b=2. Possible numbers 123, 222, 321, 420
666= 101(a+c)+20b, therefore (a+c)=6 and b=3. Possible numbers 135, 234, 333, 432, 531, 630
888= 101(a+c)+20b, therefore (a+c)=8 and b=4. Possible numbers 147, 246, 345, 444, 543,
642, 741, 840
Therefore there are 20 such numbers

Answer the following questions:

1) A 3 digit number is formed by taking consecutive digits in hundred’s, ten’s and unit’s places
respectively. This number is subtracted from its reverse and the result is a natural number. Find
the product of the digits of the result.

2) Two 3 digit numbers are subtracted from their reverse. The respective differences are 198
and 792. If all the digits are same in the initial 3 digit numbers, then how many such sets of
numbers are possible?

Answer for the 1st ques: Let the 3 digit number be abc with consecutive digits in ascending
order. This is because the reverse is more than the number, therefore c>a. Difference of the
number and reverse will be 99(c-a)= 99x2= 198. Product of the digits of the difference = 72.

Answer for the 2nd ques: Let the 2 digit numbers be abc and def, and both the numbers have
the same set of digits.
Therefore (c-a)=2 and (f-d)=8
Possible values of abc and def are :
193 and 139
719 and 179
Therefore 2 such sets are possible

#POST4
Numbers 4: Four digit numbers
When the digits of a four digit number are reversed i.e., the unit digit becomes hundreds digit
and vice versa, then the difference between these two numbers is always divisible by 9. Let the
number be abcd.
Then(1000a+100b+10c+d)-(1000da+100c+10b+a)=9(111(a-d)+10(b-c)
When the digits of a four digit number are reversed i.e., the unit digit becomes hundreds digit
and vice versa, then the sum of these two numbers is always divisible by 11. Let the number be
abcd.
Then(1000a+100b+10c+d)+(1000d+100c+10b+a)=11(91(a+d)+10(b+c)
Conclusions
For a number with even number of digits, the difference with reverse is always divisible by 9
and the sum with reverse is always divisible by 11
For a number with odd number of digits, the difference with reverse is always divisible by 99
and there is no common pattern to divide sum with reverse
Even number of digits Odd number of digits
Difference with reverse Divisible by 9 Divisible by 99
Sum with reverse Divisible by 11 No pattern

Eg, the difference of 2345678 and 8765432 is divisible by 99, since there are 7 digits, an odd
number. Sum of 564379 and 973465 is always divisible by 11, since there are 6 digits, an even
number

#Post5
Fraction: Iterative
We have often come across questions where the same or different action is repeated and some
information is given about the final outcome. Such questions can be done mentally.
For example: A man went into a casino with some rupees. He doubled his money and gave Rs,
200 to a beggar. He did this 2 more times and is not left with anything. How much money did he
start off with?
This can be done mentally. Basically each action is to be converted into a mathematical
operation. So doubling is x2 and giving away 200 is -200. Now the actual number is only given
for the last amount that he is left with nothing i.e. 0. So lets start from there.
Since we are starting from the back i.e. the end, we will reverse all mathematical operation so
x2 is divided by 2 and -200 is + 200
So original sequence of action was :
X2; -200; x2 ; -200; x2 ; -200
Now it will be
+200; /2; +200; /2; +200; /2
And the operation will start with 0:
So
200
100
300
150
350
175
So he started with 175
Another example:
A person has n chocolates. He gives half of what he has and ½ chocolate to a kid. He does the
same with 3 more kids and is left with none. Find n
Mathematical operations are in sequence:
X1/2; -1/2; x1/2; -1/2; x1/2; -1/2; x1/2; -1/2
So the reverse would be
+1/2; x2; +1/2; x2; +1/2; x2; +1/2; x2
So the amounts would be
½
1
3/2
3
7/2
7
15/2
15
Therefore n =15

Try to do the following questions mentally:

1) A man goes to a casino. In 1st round he doubles his amount and gives Rs. 100 to a beggar.
2nd round he loses half his money and gives Rs. 50 to the beggar. In 3rd round he quadrules
his money and gives Rs. 200 to the beggar. He is left with Rs. 200

2) A person is practising Math. He does ½ the questions and 2 more questions. Next day he
does 1/3rd of the remaining questions and 4 more questions. Next day he does 1/4th of the
remaining questions and 6 more questions and he completes all the questions. How many
questions were there?

Oa:
No..doing 1/4th means reductuon by 1/4th of unsolved ques...so original numbr is multiplied wid
3/4..so in reverse it shud b x4/3..also original operation is -6..so reverse shud b +6
1)200 2) 40

#Post6
Equations: Age
In age related questions all we have to keep in mind is that the change in age is same for
everyone
So if the age of one person changes by 6 years, the age of the other person also increases by 6
years!!!
Example 1: I am as old as my brother was when I was half as old as he is. If my brother is 4
years elder to me then when will be the sum of ages be 40?
Let the present age of the speaker be M. Therefore his brother’s age is M+4
Now when the speaker was half as old as his brother is now, then his age was (M+4)/2.
This was M- (M+4)/2 years ago or (M-4)/2 years ago
Therefore his brother’s age then must have been (M+4)- (M-4)/2 years= (M+12)/2 years
Therefore the speaker’s present age is (M+12)/2 years
Therefore M = (M+12)/2 years OR M=12 years
Brother’s age = 12+4=16 years
Sum of their ages= 28 years
Therefore sum will become 40 after 6 years
Example 2: I am half as old as my brother was when he was twice of my present age. If he is 10
years elder to me, what is the sum of our present ages?
Let the present age of the speaker be M. Therefore his brother’s age is M+10
When brother was twice of the speaker’s age, then the brother’s age was 2M
Speaker’s present age is half of 2M=M
This we already know, therefore cannot be determined

Example 3: I am more than 5 times my brother’s age and will be 4 times his age in 1 year’s time.
In 4 years time I will be 2.5 times his age. What was my age when he was born?
After 1 year,
Let the age of the younger brother be M
Therefore age of the elder brother is 4M

After 4 years,
Age of the younger brother= M+3
Age of the elder brother is 4M+3
Therefore
2.5(M+3)= 4M+3 OR M= 3
Age of the elder brother after 1 year= 12
Age gap= 9 years
Example 4: A person is 4 times as old as he was p years ago. How many times of half of his
age, p years ago, will be his age 2.5 p years later?
His present age = 4p/3. Age p years ago= 4p/3 – p= p/3. Half of the age p years ago= p/6. Age
2.5p years later= 4p/3 + 2.5p= 23p/3. Ratio= 23p/3: p/6= 46:1.

Answer the following questions:

1) A said to B: When I was of your age you were 3/7 of my present age. If the sum of their
present ages is 60, what is their respective age?
2) A said to B: When I was half as old as you were 1/5th of my present age. If the difference of
their present ages is 7, find their ages.

Oa:
take their ages x and 60-x, so x waale ka age jab 60-x tha tab 60-x waale ka age 3/7x tha..now
the difference between present age and past age (the time they are talking about has to be
SAME for both)..so 60 - (60-x) = (60-x) - 3/7 x

Let the age of one person be a so the other is a +7..now when a+7 was half as old as a, i.e. a/2
then a was 1/5th of the present age of (a+7) i.e. (a+7)/5..but the number of years from past age
to present age must be same..so a+7 - a/2 = a - (a+7)/5
#POST7
Equations: Special Equations 1
Two variables and one equation
As we know, the thumb rule is the number of equations should be equal to number of variables.
For example 2x +3y=20 will not give us unique values for x and y. However the equations
2x+3y=20 and 3x+2y= 27, will give us values of x and y as 7 and 3.
Exception to the above rule is that if there are 2 variables and 1 equation, there is some
additional information
For example if the equation is 2x+3y=20 and x and y are natural numbers (integers greater than
0), then there won’t be infinite solutions for x and y. Here x and y can only take values (7,2),
(4,4), (1,6) only. This is because y can only be even and will lie between 0 and 7. If y is more
than 7, then 3y>20 and x becomes negative which is not allowed.

Lets take the equation ax + by = c; where a, b and c are non zero integers

Case 1: C is a multiple of both a and b

Example : 3x + 5y = 105
Number of solutions where x and y are whole numbers = 105/(LCM(3,5))+1=8
Number of solutions where x and y are natural numbers = 105/(LCM(3,5))-1=6
Minimum whole number value of x = 0
Minimum natural number value of x = 5 (coefficient of y)
Maximum value of x, when y can be 0 = 105/3=35
Maximum value of x, when y cannot be 0 = (105/3) – 5(coefficient of y) = 30
Minimum whole number value of y = 0
Minimum natural number value of y = 3 (coefficient of x)
Maximum value of y, when x can be 0 = 105/5 = 21
Maximum value of y, when x cannot be 0 = (105/5) - 3(coefficient of x) = 18
To find all other possible values of x and y: Each variable will decrease or increase by the value
of the coefficient of the other variable i.e. x will change by 5 and y will change by 3
XY
0 21
5 18
10 15
15 12
20 9
25 6
30 3
35 0

Examples:
4x + 7y = 252, where x and y are whole numbers. How many values of x and y are possible?
Find all possible values of x and y
As given, 252 is a multiple of both 4 and 7, therefore 252/(LCM(4,7))=252/28=9,therefore
(9+1)=10 values are possible since x and y are whole numbers
When x = 0, then y = 36
Also x will change by 7 and y will change by 4
XY
0 36
7 32
14 28
21 24
28 20
35 16
42 12
49 8
56 4
63 0

2x + 9y = 126, where x and y are natural numbers. How many values of x and y are possible?
Find all possible values
As given, 126 is a multiple of both 2 and 9, therefore 126/(LCM(2,9))=126/18=7,therefore (7-
1)=8 values are possible since x and y are natural numbers
The smallest value of x will be 9 and that of y will be 2
When x =9 , then y = 12
Also x will change by 9 and y will change by 2
XY
9 12
18 10
27 8
36 6
45 4
54 2

4x + 10y = 200; here x and y are natural numbers. How many values of x and y are possible?
Find all possible values
4x + 10y = 200 can be written as 2x + 5y = 100
As given, 100 is a multiple of both 2 and 5, therefore 100/(LCM(2,5))=100/10=10,therefore (10-
1)=9 values are possible since x and y are natural numbers
The smallest value of x will be 10 and that of y will be 4
When x =10 , then y = 16
Also x will change by 10 and y will change by 4; Though we have reduced by dividing the whole
equation with 2, the change in values will be as per the original equation and not the reduced
one
XY
10 16
20 12
30 8
40 4
And there's a typo in - Maximum value of y, when x cannot be 0 = (105/5) - 3(coefficient of y) =
18

Should be 3(coefficient of x)

#POST8
Equations: Special Equations 2
Case 2: C is a multiple of any one of a and b but not both
Example: 5x + 7y = 165
Number of solutions where x and y are whole numbers = 165/(LCM(7,5))+1 = 165/35+1 = 4 + 1
=5
Number of solutions where x and y are natural numbers =165/(LCM(7,5)) = 165/35 = 4
The constant is divisible by coefficient of x
Minimum whole number value of x = NOT POSSIBLE
Minimum natural number value of x = 165/5- 7k (where k is the number of natural number
solutions)
Maximum value of x, when y can be 0 = 165/5=33
Maximum value of x, when y cannot be 0 = (165/5) – 7 = 33 – 7 = 26
The constant is not divisible by coefficient of y
Minimum whole number value of y = 0
Minimum natural number value of y = 5 (coefficient of x)
Maximum value of y, when x can be 0 = NOT POSSIBLE
Maximum value of y, when x cannot be 0 = 5k, where k is the number of natural number
solutions, so 5 x 4 = 20

To find all other possible values of x and y: Each variable will decrease or increase by the value
of the coefficient of the other variable i.e. x will change by 7 and y will change by 5
XY
33 20
26 15
19 10
12 5
50

Examples:

6x + 7y = 150; here x and y are whole numbers. How many values of x and y are possible?
Find all possible values
As given, 150 is a multiple of 6 but not 7, therefore 150/(LCM(6,7))=150/42=3,therefore (3+1)=4
values are possible since x and y are whole numbers
Constant is divisible by the coefficient of x, so find the smallest value of y
The smallest value of y will be 0
When y = 0 , then x = 25
Also x will change by 7 and y will change by 6

XY
25 0
18 6
11 12
4 18

4x + 11y = 198; here x and y are natural numbers. How many values of x and y are possible?
Find all possible values
As given, 198 is a multiple of 11 but not 4, therefore 198/(LCM(4,11))=198/44=4,therefore 4
values are possible since x and y are natural numbers
Constant is divisible by the coefficient of y, so find the smallest value of x
The smallest value of x will be 4
When y = 4, then x = 41
Also x will change by 11 and y will change by 4
XY
41 4
30 8
19 12
8 16

#POST9
Equations: Special Equations 3
Case 3: C is not a multiple of any of a or b
Example: 2x + 5y = 49
In such cases we have to use a slightly lengthier approach
Step 1: Take any one variable, say x, on left hand side and everything else on right hand side
So x = (49-5y)/2
For x to be an integer (49-5y) must be divisible by 2
Step 2: By trial and error identify a value of y for which x is an integer
We have to find a value of y such that (49-5y) is divisible by 2
Start with y= 1
At y =1, (49-5y = 49 – 5 = 44) is divisible by 2
So minimum value of y = 1 and when y = 1, x = 44/2= 22
Step 3: Values of the variable will change by the margin of the coefficient of other variable, so
find all possible set of values of x and y
Here x will change by 5 and y will change by 2
XY
22 1
17 3
12 5
77
29
So there are 5 possible values of x and y.
Note: In such cases, neither of x or y can be 0, so the answer is same irrespective of whether
the questions natural number or whole number

Examples:
For all questions, x and y are natural numbers
3x + 4y = 50; Find all possible values of x and y
As we can see the constant 50 is neither divisible by 3 nor 4
So x = (50-4y)/3
When y = 1, x = 46/3
When y = 2, x = 42/3=14
First set of values of x and y are 14 and 2 respectively
Now x will decrease by 4 and y will increase by 3

XY
14 2
10 5
68
2 11

8x + 6y = 196; Find all possible values of x and y

As we can see the constant 196 is neither divisible by 8 nor 6
So y = (196-8x)/6
When x = 1, y = 188/6 which is not an integer
When x = 2, y = 180/6=30 which is an integer
First set of values of y and x are 30 and 2 respectively
Now y will decrease by 8 and x will increase by 6

YX
30 2
22 8
14 14
6 20

So there are 4 possible values of x and y

#POST10
Other Equations
When there is subtraction sign:
For example 4x – 5y = 60
In these cases the number of solutions will be infinite unless upper limit for the values of x and y
are given
Say its given that x and y are whole numbers less than 100
Then we solve using the same methods as earlier
When y =0, x = 15
From here on x will increase by 5 and y will increase by 4
So the next set of values for x, y will be (20, 4); (25,8); (30, 12); (35,16); (40,20); (45,24);
(50,28);
(55,32); (60,36); (65,40); (70,44); (75,48); (80,52); (85,56); (90,60); (95,64)
Example: In an exam with 80 questions there are 4 marks for a right answer and penalty for
wrong answer and un-attempted question is -2 and -1 respectively. A student scored 100 marks.
In how many ways is this possible?
Let the number of right answers be R, wrong answers be W and un-attempted questions be U
So R + W + U = 80 ( total questions)
Also 4R – 2W – U = 100
Adding the 2 equations
5R – W = 180
When W = 0, R = 36
From here R will increase by 1 and W will increase by 5
However R+W cannot exceed 50 as the total number of questions is 50
So possible values for R,W are (36,0); (37,5); (38,10); (39,15); (40,20); (41,25); (42,30); (43,35)
We cannot have 44 right answers and 40 wrong answers as that would mean at least 84
questions which is not possible
So 8 values are possible

#POST11
When 3 variables are given
For example: 15x + 5y + 3z = 50 (x,y,z are whole numbers)
Here, start with the variable with the highest coefficient
Since 15x <50, therefore x can take values of 0, 1, 2 and 3
When x=0, 5y+3z= 50
5y+3z= 50: 4 solutions (since 50 is divisible by 5, therefore 50/(LCM(5,3))=50/15=3,so whole
number solutions are 4
When x=1, 5y+3z= 35
5y+3z= 35: 2 solutions (35/LCM(5,3) =35/15=2,so whole number solutions are 3
When x=2, 5y+3z= 20
5y+3z= 20: 2 solutions (20/(LCM(5,3))=20/15=1,so whole number solutions are 2
When x=3, 5y+3z= 5
5y+3z= 5: 1 solution (5/(LCM(5,3))=5/15=0,so whole number solutions are 1
So total number of solutions = 4+3+2+1= 10

Example: 6x + 9y + 12z = 90 (x,y,z are natural numbers)

We can simplify the solutions as 2x + 3y + 4z = 30
We will start with z.
When z= 1, 2x + 3y = 26: 4 solutions (26 is divisible by 2; 26/6)
When z= 2, 2x + 3y = 22: 3 solutions
When z= 3, 2x + 3y = 18: 2 solutions
When z= 4, 2x + 3y = 14: 2 solutions
When z= 5, 2x + 3y = 10: 1 solution
When z= 6, 2x + 3y = 6: 0 solutions
Total number of solutions = 12 solutions

#POST12
Special Equations Practice
Find the following for each of the equations given below:
i) Number of solutions
ii) Minimum and maximum values of x and y
If:
a) x and y are natural numbers
b) X and y are whole numbers

1) 2x + 3y = 60
2) 4x + 7y = 308
3) 5x + 11 y = 605
4) 8x + 3y= 648
5) 10x + 15y = 1080
6) 6x + 7y = 364
7) 9x + 4y = 261
8) 13x + 2y = 429
9) 11x + 17 y = 357
10) 6x + 15y = 375
11) 12x + 31y = 524
12) 11x + 23 y = 679
13) 16x + 5y = 668
14) 14x + 29y = 1173
15) 10x + 21y = 1457
16) 13x + 17y = 297
17) 4x + 11 y = 565
18) 18x + 27y = 864
19) 55x + 132y = 5137
20) 84x + 156y = 1332

#POST13
Special Equations Practice
1) The number of solutions of the equation 2x +5y = 50 where both x and y
are positive integers and x ≤ y is:
2) I have to pay Rs. 1210 in denomination of Rs. 50, Rs. 20 and Rs. 10. If
I use more than 22 notes of Rs. 50, in how many ways can I pay?
3) A person goes to bank to receive a certain amount in denominations of
500 and 10. Teller by mistake exchanges the number of 500 and 10 notes.
Person goes out with the increased amount and after spending Rs.390, has an
amount which is double of what he was supposed to receive. If he was
supposed to receive an amount less than 10000, then how many such values
can be there?

#POST14

solutions for the last 3 ques

2x +5 y = 400
The right hand side constant is divisible by both the coefficients.
Therefore value of x will be multiples of 5 and values of y will be
multiples of 2.
When y=78, x=5
When y=2,x=195
As explained values of y will be all multiples of 2 i.e. all even numbers
from 2 to 78. Therefore there are 39 values for y and thus x.
When x and y are equal or very close then the ratio of 2x and 5y will be
equal or very close to 2:5. Therefore x will be close to 114 and 5y will be
close to 286
Closest possible value of 5y to 286 is when y=57.
However y must be even, therefore closest possible value of y is 58
When y=58, x=55 and x<y
For all values of y<58, x>y
Therefore all even numbers from 2 to 56 are to be excluded. There are 28
such values
Therefore values where y≥x= 39-28=11

Let the number of notes of Rs.50, Rs.20 and Rs.10 be a, b and c

respectively. Therefore as given,
50a+20b+10c=1210 OR 5a+2b+c=121
There are at least 23 notes of Rs. 50. So the minimum value of a is 23. If
we subtract that from the given equation where p=a-22,then
5a-5x22+2b+c=121-(22x5), therefore
5p+2b+c=11
If p=1, then 2b+c=6. Since b can take values from 0 to 6, there are 4
solutions
If p=2, then 2b+c=1. Since b can take only value i.e. 0, there is 1
solution
Therefore 5 ways
Let the number of notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 10 that the person was supposed
to receive are a and b respectively.
After receiving the wrong amount he spent some money and still has double
of what he was supposed to get, therefore amount actually received is more
than the amount due to receive.
Therefore
2(500a+10b)= 500b+10a-390
OR 480b-990a=390
OR 48b-99a=39
OR 16b-33a=13
Therefore b= (13+33a)/16=2a+(13+a)/16
Using trial and error, smallest value of a for which b is an integer or
(13+a) is a multiple of 16 is 3. When a= 3, b=7
Amount when a=3 and b=7 is 500x3+10x7= 1570
Values of a will increase by 16 and values of b will increase by 33
Therefore next set of values for a and b will be 19 and 40 and so on.
Amount when a is 19 and b is 40 will be 500x19+10x40= 9540
For the next set of values of a and b the amount will exceed 10000
So only two set of values are possible

SIMPLE EQUATIONS 2
#post1
Answer this without using any of the methods by sheer common sense:
6x + 14y + 28z = 531
How many solutions where x,y and z are natural numbers?

OA: 0; ALL COEFFCIENTS ARE EVEN WHEREAS THE CONSTANT IS ODD

#post2
Answer this without using any of the methods by sheer common sense:
9x + 10y= 154
How many solutions where x and y are natural numbers?
Do this MENTALLY
OA: 2; approach: since 10y will end in 0, therefore 9x must end in 4, so x must end in 6,
therefore x can be 6 or 16

#post3
Answer this without using any of the methods by sheer common sense:
9x + 5y= 325
How many solutions where x and y are natural numbers?
MENTALLY again

OA: 7; since 325 is divisible by 5, therefore if x is a multiple of 5 then the formula will always
stand, for example if x =5, then 9x =45, so 5y = 325-45=280..now 280 will always be divisible by
5..so the equation will stand..all we have to ensure is that x is a multiple of 5..now 9 x 36=
324..so homany multiples of 9 till 325: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35..7 multiples

#post4
Answer this without using any of the methods by sheer common sense:
9x + 5y= 227
How many solutions where x and y are natural numbers?
DEFINITELY MENTALLY

Oa:
5 ka multiple will always end with 0 or 5. Now ehn you add 9x to it you are getting a number
ending in 7. How is that possible? only when 9x ends in 7 and 5y ends in 0 or 9x ends in 2 and
5y ends in 5..now what should be the value of x for 9x to end in 7 or 2..x must end with 3 for 9x
to end with 7 and x must end with 8 for 9x to end with 2..so multiply 9 with numbers ending in 2
or 8..till the value is less than 227

there will be 5 such values: 2, 8, 12, 18, 22..you dont need to check for 5y because the residual
part (227 - 9x) will end with 5 or 0 and will always be divisible by 5

#post5
5x+10y+20z = 55
If x,y and z are whole numbers, how many solutions are possible?

First simplify the equation as x+2y+4z = 11; then focus on the possible values of the variable
with the largest coeffecient which is z. So z can be 0 or 1 or 2. Now when z =0, then the
equation is x+2y = 11. Again focus on the bigger coeffecient, 2 and the values that y can take.
So y can take any value from 0 to 5. So 6 values. Similarly when z=1, then the equation is x+2y
= 7. Again focus on the bigger coeffecient, 2 and the values that y can take. So y can take any
value from 0 to 3. So 4 values. And when z=2, then the equation is x+2y = 3. Again focus on the
bigger coeffecient, 2 and the values that y can take. So y can take any value from 0 to 1. So 2
values. Therefore 12 values are possible
#post6
IDENTICAL QUESTION, SAME APPROACH REQUIRED
a + 3b + 7c =161. How many different solutions can this have if x,y and z are all natural
numbers?

When c=22, then a+3b = 7, so 2 values; when c = 21, then a +3b = 14, so 4 values, and When
c=20, then a+3b = 21, so 6 values. Similarly if you proceed you will realise that the values come
as a series which goes like this, 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 32, 34, 36.....64, 66, 68
and 71