Solution to The Mathclub, VIT-AP wants to conduct a group event for its members. So the club … - Sikademy
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Archangel Macsika

The Mathclub, VIT-AP wants to conduct a group event for its members. So the club president has to fix the group size the event. When he tries to fix the size to be 5 members in each group, 4 members are left; when he tries to fix the size to be 6 members in each group, 5 members are left; When he fixes the size to be 7 members in each group, 6 members are left. What is the smallest number of members that the club has?

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Let x be the number of members that the club has. Then we have the following system of linear congruences:


\begin{cases} x\equiv 4\ (\mod 5)\\ x\equiv 5\ (\mod 6)\\ x\equiv 6\ (\mod 7) \end{cases}


The first congruence is equivalent to the equality x=4+5t,\ t\in\mathbb Z. Put this in the second congruence:


4+5t\equiv 5\ (\mod 6)


5t\equiv 1\ (\mod 6)


-t\equiv 1\ (\mod 6)


t\equiv -1\ (\mod 6)


Consequently, t=-1+6s,\ s\in\mathbb Z.


x=4+5t=4+5(-1+6s)=-1+30s


Put x in the third congruence of the system:


-1+30s\equiv 6\ (\mod 7)


30s\equiv 7\ (\mod 7)


30s\equiv 0\ (\mod 7)


s\equiv 0\ (\mod 7)


Therefore, s=7k,\ k\in\mathbb Z.


We conclude that


x=-1+30s=-1+30\cdot 7k=-1+210k, k\in\mathbb Z.


For we have the smallest positive x=-1+210=209.


Therefore, the smallest number of members that the club has is 209.



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Question ID: mtid-5-stid-8-sqid-3424-qpid-2123