We will prove this by contradiction. Denote the sum xc+yd by s. Then, obviously, xc=−yd(mods) and also if (xa+yb):s, then xa=−yb(mods). This implies that xad=(−1)dybd(mods) and xbc=(−1)bybd(mods), hence (−1)dxad=ybd=(−1)bxbc(mods)⇒xad=(−1)b−dxbc(mods). It is clear that x and s are coprime, so we can divide the last congruence by x raised to the power min{ad,bc}, and obtain xmax{ad,bc}=(−1)b−d(mods). Similarly, we get ymax{ad,bc}=(−1)a−c(mods). Therefore, ymax{ad−bc}−xmax{ad−bc}:s or ymax{ad−bc}+xmax{ad−bc}:s. By the statement of the problem, we have 0<∣ad−bc∣<min{c,d}. But then
∣ymax{ad−bc}−xmax{ad−bc}∣<ymax{ad−bc}+xmax{ad−bc}<yd+xc=s.
So, the expression ∣ymax{ad−bc}±xmax{ad−bc}∣ can be divisible by s only if it is equal to zero. But this contradicts the fact that x and y are coprime, and we are done.