# Math Help - possible values for simple equation

1. ## possible values for simple equation

$4m+ 3n= 400$

Express all possible positive integer values of m, n in terms of a third variable, k. (Use modular arithmetic)

2. Hello, DivideBy0!

We can solve this with "normal" algebra . . .

$4m+ 3n\:=\: 400$

Express all possible positive integer values of $m,\, n$ in terms of a third variable, $k.$

Solve for $m\!:\;\;m \:=\;100-\frac{3}{4}n$ .[1]

Since $m$ is an integer, $n$ must be a multiple of 4.
. . That is: . $n \:=\:4k$ for some integer $k.$

Substitue into [1]: . $m \:=\:100-\frac{3}{4}(4k)\:=\:100-3k$

And we have parametric equations for all solutions:

. . $\begin{array}{ccc}m & = & 100-3k \\ n & = & 4k\end{array}$ . for any integer $k.$

3. Thanks, I have two question though
How would you express them if you could only have them as natural numbers, would you have 1 =< k =< 33?
and What are parametric equations? thanks again

4. Originally Posted by DivideBy0
Thanks, I have two question though
How would you express them if you could only have them as natural numbers, would you have 1 =< k =< 33?
and What are parametric equations? thanks again
As

$
4m+3n=400
$

$4|n$, so $n=4k$ for some $k \in \bold{Z}$

Then we have:

$
m+k=100
$
,

or:

$
m=100-k
$
.

Now if you choose any $k \in \bold{Z}$ then:

$m=100-k,\ n=4k$

is a solution to the original equation.

RonL

5. Hello, DivideBy0!

How would you express them if you could only have them as natural numbers?
Would you have: . $1 \:\leq\: k \:\leq \:33$? . . . . Yes!

What are parametric equations?

A parameter is an "extra variable".

Instead of having $y$ as a function of $x\!:\;y \:=\:f(x)$,

. . we can have: . $\begin{array}{cc}x\text{ as a function of }t\!: & x \:=\:g(t) \\
y\text{ as a function of }t\!: & y \:=\:h(t)\end{array}$

This opens the door to an entire universe of fascinating functions and graphs
. . . . . curves with loops, that intersect itself, etc.