Problema Solution

An executive buys $2490 worth of presents for the children of her employees. For each girl she gets an art kit costing $33; each boy receives a set of tools costing $29. How many presents of each type did she buy?

Answer provided by our tutors

Let


x = number of art kits

y = number of set of tools


We have to find x and y non-negative integers where 33x+29y = 2490


Using the Euclidean algorithm

33 = 1(29)+4 0 < 4 < 29

29 = 7(4) +1 0 < 1 < 4

4 = 4(1) + 0


Since 1 is the last nonzero remainder 33 and 29 are relative prime and:


1 = 29-7*4 =29-7(33-1*29) = 29-7*33 +7*29 = 8*29 -7*33


Then:


1 = 8*29 -7*33 multiply both sides by 2490


2490 = 33(-7 * 2490) + 29 (8*2490)


2490 = 33*(-17430) + 29*19920 + 33*29*k - 33*29*k = 33(29k-17430)+29(19920-33k) for any k integer


0 <= x = 29k - 17430 and 0 <= y = 19920 - 33k


Then:


17430 <= 29k and 33k <= 19920


17430/29 <= k <= 19920/33


601 < k <604


Then k = 602 or k = 603


1) For k = 602 then x = 29k-17430 = 28 and y = 19920 - 33k = 54


x = 28 and y = 54


2) For k = 603 then x = 29k-17430 = 57 and y = 19920 - 33k = 21


x =57 and y = 21


There are 2 options:


Option 1) She can buy 28 art kits and 54 tool sets.

Option 2) She can buy 57 art kits and 21 tool sets.