Find all integer solutions to linear congruences:
\begin{align}
&(a) &3x &\equiv 24 \pmod{6},\\
&(b) &10x &\equiv 18 \pmod{25},\\
\end{align}
What I have so far:
$$(a) \gcd(3,6)=3$$
And we know $3|24$ so there are $3$ solutions. By inspection we know that $x=8$ is a solution.
One, question I have is, even though $x=8$ is a solution, I can also see that $x=2$ is a solution, and among others. Does it matter which I choose, or do I randomly choose a solution I see? From here I'm a tad confused. I'm missing something very simple.
$$(b) \gcd (10,25)=5$$
And $5 \nmid 18$ so there are no solutions. Right?
Answer
Using this, $(10,25)=5$ must divide $9$ to admit any solution, which is not, so there is no solution.
$3x\equiv 24\pmod 6\implies 2\mid x$ i.e., any even value(not only $8$) of $x$ will satisfy the 1st congruence.
So, the system of the linear congruence has no solution as the 2nd congruence is not solvable.
Alternatively, for the 2nd congruence, $10x-18=25y$ for some integer $y$,
So,$5(2x-5y)=18, \frac{18}5=2x-5y$ which is an integer, hence contradiction.
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