Compute the sum of all positive integers a≤26 for which there exist integers b and c such that a+23b+15c−2 and 2a+5b+14c−8 are both multiples of 26.
A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.
Solution
Assume b and c exist. Considering the two values modulo 13, we find {a+10b+2c≡22a+5b+c≡8(mod13)(mod13) Subtracting twice the second equation from the first, we get −3a≡−14(mod13). So, we have a≡9(mod13). Therefore we must either have a=9 or a=22. Moreover, both a=9 and a=22 yield solutions with b=0 and c=3,16, depending on the value of a. Thus the answer is 9+22=31.
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