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anemone
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Find all pairs $(a,\,b)$ of integers such that $1998a+1996b+1=ab$.
anemone said:Find all pairs $(a,\,b)$ of integers such that $1998a+1996b+1=ab$.
[sp]Write the equation as $1997(a+b) = (a+1)(b-1)$. Since $1997$ is prime, it follows that either $a+1$ or $b-1$ must be a multiple of $1997$.anemone said:Find all pairs $(a,\,b)$ of integers such that $1998a+1996b+1=ab$.
Finding integer solutions to an equation means finding values for the variables that make the equation true when substituted into the equation. These values must be whole numbers, not fractions or decimals.
When solving equations with multiple variables, you can use algebraic methods such as substitution or elimination to reduce the number of variables until you are left with a single variable. You can also graph the equation to visually determine the solutions.
No, not all equations have integer solutions. Some equations may only have solutions that are fractions or decimals, or they may not have any solutions at all.
The best way to determine if an equation has integer solutions is to try substituting different integer values for the variables and see if the equation is true. If you find at least one set of values that satisfies the equation, then it has integer solutions.
Integer solutions are important in mathematics because they allow us to solve real-world problems and model situations using whole numbers. They also help us understand patterns and relationships between numbers, and they are essential in many areas of mathematics such as number theory, algebra, and geometry.