CAT 2020 Slot 2 — QA Question 22
Number TheoryEasy
The number of pairs of integer (x, y) satisfying x ≥ y ≥ - 20 and 2x + 5y = 99 is
Answer & solution
Answer: 17
Solution
Easy
Solve for in terms of ; integrality forces to be odd. Then apply the constraints and to bound , and count the odd values in the allowed range.
1
Express and force integrality.
For to be an integer, must be even, so is odd, hence is odd.
2
Lower bound on . Given and odd, the smallest allowed is .
3
Upper bound from . Substitute .
So the largest odd is .
4
Count odd from to .