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ISSN: 2347
International Journal of Mathematics And its Applications
Diophantine Equations and its Applications in Real Life
Research Article
Deepinder Kaur1∗ and Meenal Sambhor2
1 Department of Mathematics, SGND Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi.
2 Department of Mathematics, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi, Delhi.
Abstract: Diophantine equations can be used in various fields. In this paper, we have tried to study the origin of Diophantine
Equations and how they can be applied in Real life.
Keywords: Diophantine Equations, Balancing Chemical Equations, Network flow, Pythagorean Triples, Fermat Last Theorem.
c JS Publication.
1. Introduction
The word ‘Diophantine’ came from ‘Diophantus’ who was a Mathematician in Alexandria sometimes around 250AD. The
mathematics in his personal life motivated his study. His Boyhood lasted 1/6th of his life, his beard grew after 1/12th more,
after 1/7th more he got married and his son was born 5 years later. The son lived half his father’s age and the father died
1 1
4 years after his son. If x was the age at which Diophantus died then, 6
x + 12
x + 17 x + 5 + 12 x + 4 = x, which solves to
x = 84 (his age). The motivation to study more equations in one or more unknowns having only integral solutions lead to
the origin of Diophantine Equation which is defined as a Polynomial equation with Integral coefficients which is solvable in
Integers.
1.1. Forms (Types) of Diophantine Equations
b
The Simplest form of Diophantine Equation is a Linear Diophantine Equation in One variable, namely, ax = b; when x = a
must be integral.
For instance, If 2/5th of a number is 4 more than 1/3rd of the number then what is the number?
2 x
x − = 4 ⇒ x = 60 (Integral)
5 3
Extending this, we move to linear Diophantine Equation in Two variables which is of the form : ax + by = c. We observe
that not all Diophantine equations are solvable. The following result tells us the condition of solvability.
Result 1.1. The Linear Diophantine equation ax + by = c has a solution if and only if d | c where d = gcd(a, b). If x0 , y0
is any particular solution of this equation, then the other solutions are given by
b a
x = x0 + t, y = y0 − t
d d
∗
E-mail: [email protected]
217
Diophantine Equations and its Applications in Real Life
where t is an arbitrary integer.
Proof. First Assertion: We know that there are integers r and s for which a=dr and b = ds. If a solution of ax + by = c
exists, so that ax0 + by 0 = c for suitable x0 and y0 , then
c = ax0 + by 0 = drx0 + dsy 0 = d(rx0 + sy 0 )
which simply says that d | c.
Conversely, Assume that d | c, say c = dt. Then clearly integers x0 and y0 can be found satisfying d = ax0 + by 0 . Multiplying
by t,
c = dt = (ax0 + by 0 ) t = a(tx0 ) + b(ty 0 ).
Hence, Diophantine equation ax + by = c has x = tx0 and y = ty0 as a particular solution.
Second Assertion: Let us suppose that a solution x0 , y0 of the given equation is known. If x0 , y 0 is any other solution,
then ax0 + by0 = c = ax0 + by 0 which is equivalent to a(x0 − x0 ) = b(y0 − y 0 ). There exist relatively prime integers r and s
such that a = dr, b = ds. Substituting these values into last written equation we get
r(x0 − x0 ) = s(y0 − y 0 )
Now we have, r|s(y0 − y 0 ) with gcd(r, s) = 1. Using Euclid’s Lemma (If a prime p divides product ab of 2 integers a and b,
p must divide atleast one of those integers a and b), it must be the case that r | (y0 − y 0 ) or y0 − y 0 = rt, for some integer
t. Substituting, we get x0 − x0 = st which leads to the formulas
b
x0 = x0 + st = x0 + t,
d
a
y 0 = y0 − rt = y0 − t
d
It is easy to see that these values satisfy the Diophantine equation, regardless of choice of integer t; for
b h a i
ax0 + by 0 = a x0 + t + b y0 − t
d d
ab ab
= (ax0 + by0 ) + − t
d d
= c + 0.t
=c
Therefore, there are infinite number of solutions of the given equation, one for each value of t.
Note: Diophantine equations can be extended in both linear and non linear forms for finite and infinitely many variables.
2. Applications of Diophantine Equations in Real Life
Word Problem on Age : 1/8th of Ross’ age 1 year ago plus 1/9th of his age 1 year from now is 4 years. What is his
present age?
H −1 H +1
+ = 4 ⇒ H = 17 (his present age).
8 9
218
Deepinder Kaur and Meenal Sambhor
Note: When simultaneous Linear Diophantine Equations are given in more than 1 variable then the system it generates
is equivalent to the system of linear equations.
Word Problem on Business: James invested a part of his investment in 10% bond A and a part in 20% bond B. His
interest income during first year is Rs.4,000. If he invests 60% more in 10% bond A and 10% more in 20% bond B, his
income during second year increases by Rs. 2,000. Find his initial investments.
Solution. Let his investment be Rs.x and Rs.y in Bond A and Bond B respectively. Then
0.10x + 0.20y = 4000
and in second year,
0.10(1.60x) + 0.20(1.10y) = 6000
0.16x + 0.22y = 6000
We can solve these as
0.10 0.20 x 4000
=
0.16 0.22 y 6000
A X B
since |A|= −0.01 6= 0, so A is invertible. Then
X = A−1 B
1 0.22 −0.20 4000
=
−0.01 −0.16 0.10
6000
1 −320
=
−0.01 −40
3, 20, 000
X=
40, 000
i.e. x = Rs.3, 20, 000, y = Rs.40, 000.
Network Flow : The Traffic flow, in vehicles per hour, over several one way streets in Delhi during a typical early afternoon
is given in the following diagram. Determine the general flow patterns for the network.
The system generated by the above condition is
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Diophantine Equations and its Applications in Real Life
Intersection Inflow Outflow
A x2 + x4 = 300 + x 3
B 400 + 100 = x4 + x5
C 300 + 500 = x1 + x2
D x1 + x5 = 600
The Total Inflow = Total Outflow
⇒ x2 + x4 + 400 + 100 + 300 + 500 + x1 + x5 = 300 + x3 + x4 + x5 + x1 + x2 + 600
⇒ 1300 = x3 + 900
⇒ x3 = 400
for a simultaneous solution we express the above conditions as
x2 − x3 + x4 = 300
x4 + x5 = 500
x1 + x2 = 800
x1 + x5 = 600
x3 = 400
As x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 , x5 represents vehicles, ∴ x1 , x2 ,. . . , x5 must be whole numbers. ⇒ The above generated system is a
system of Linear Diophantine equations in 5 variables. A solution on simplification is obtained as follows:
x1 = 600 − x5
x2 = 200 + x5
x3 = 400
x4 = 500 − x5
x5 = free variable.
A negative flow in Network Branch corresponds to flow in opposite Direction to the above shown model, since the streets
in the problem are one way, so none of the variables can be negative. This fact leads to certain limitations on the possible
variables. For Instance x5 < 500 (as x4 cannot be negative). ∴ the solutions depend upon the choice of x5 from 0 to 500
(whole numbers).
3. Balancing Chemical Equations
When propane gas burns, the propane (C3 H8 ) combines with oxygen (O2 ) to form carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and water (H2 O)
according to the following equation
x1 (C3 H8 ) + x2 (O2 ) → x3 (CO2 ) + x4 (H2 O)
To Balance this equation, x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 ∈ N ∪ {0} such that total no. of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms on the left
matches the corresponding atoms on the right. Since these equations involve 3 types of atoms, so we construct a vector in
220
Deepinder Kaur and Meenal Sambhor
R3 for each reactant of the form
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
We obtain
3
0
1
0
x1 8 + x2 0 = x3 0 + x4
2
0 2 2 1
Row reduction of the matrix so formed leads to the general solution
1 5 3
x1 = x4 , x2 = x4 , x3 = x4 , x4 = free variable.
4 4 4
Since the coefficient in a chemical equation must be integers, let x4 = 4. In this case, x1 = 1, x2 = 5, x3 = 3 and Balanced
Equation becomes
C3 H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2 O
Note: The equation would also be Balanced if x4 = 4.K, K ∈ N.
But since chemist would prefer to use a Balanced equation whose coefficient are the smallest possible whole numbers. So,
x4 = 4 is as the optimal choice possible. The Equation x2 + y 2 = z 2 : A Pythagorean triple is a set of 3 integers x, y, z such
that x2 + y 2 = z 2 , the triple is said to be primitive if gcd(x, y, z) = 1.
Result 3.1. All the solutions of the Pythagorean Equation x2 + y 2 = z 2 satisfying the conditions
gcd(x, y, z) = 1, 2 | x, x > 0, y > 0, z > 0
and given by the formulas x = 2st, y = s2 − t2 , z = s2 + t2 for integers s > t > 0 such that gcd(s, t) = 1 and s 6≡ t(mod2).
Fermat, who is regarded as the Father of Number theory mentioned that It is impossible to write a cube as a sum of 2 cubes,
a fourth power as a sum of two fourth powers and so on. He was simply asserting that if, n > 2, then the Diophantine
Equation (Non-Linear) xn + y n = z n has no solution in integers. Other than the trivial solution in which at least one of the
variables is zero. The quotation just cited came to be known as Fermat’s Last Theorem. Now we will observe some Real life
application of Pythagorean triples.
Ladder Problem : A painter has to paint a wall. A ladder (35 foot), is leaning against, the side of wall positioned such
that Base of the ladder is 21 feet from the Base of the Building. How far above the ground is the point where the ladder
touches the wall. By Pythagorean triples, x2 = 352 − 212 ⇒ x = 28 feet.
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Diophantine Equations and its Applications in Real Life
Architecture (Interior) :
STQR is a Room with dimensions (13m × 4m). An architecture has to find distance of a wall painting placed at P from
corner Q and corner R of the room. Using Pythagorean Triples, P R2 = 32 + 42 ⇒ P R = 5m. Also, 132 = QP 2 + P R2 ie:
QP = 12m.
4. Conclusion
(1). Many Linear as well as Non-linear Diophantine equations in finite or infinite number of variables are solvable.
(2). When used in Real life, they can be really helpful and have wide applications.
References
[1] David M.Burton, Elementary Number theory, 7th Edition, Tata McGraw Hill.
[2] J.K.Thukral, Business Maths and Statistics, Maximax publishing house, (2015).
[3] http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/proof/puzzle/ladder.html
[4] http://www.educationworld.com/a curr/mathchat/mathchat019.shtml
[5] David C.Lay, Linear Algebra and its applications, 3rd Edition, Pearsons publishing house.
[6] http://mathworld.wolfram.com/NumberTheory.html
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