Let x and y be integers. If x and y satisfy 37x + 82y = -172 and x + y = -1, then find x.

1 answer

We are given two equations involving integers \( x \) and \( y \):

  1. \( 37x + 82y = -172 \) \quad (1)
  2. \( x + y = -1 \) \quad (2)

We can express \( y \) in terms of \( x \) from equation (2):

\[ y = -1 - x \]

Next, we will substitute this expression for \( y \) into equation (1):

\[ 37x + 82(-1 - x) = -172 \]

Expanding the left side:

\[ 37x - 82 - 82x = -172 \]

Combining like terms:

\[ (37x - 82x) - 82 = -172 \] \[ -45x - 82 = -172 \]

Now, we add 82 to both sides:

\[ -45x = -172 + 82 \] \[ -45x = -90 \]

Dividing by -45:

\[ x = \frac{-90}{-45} = 2 \]

Now, we have found \( x = 2 \). To find \( y \), we substitute \( x \) back into equation (2):

\[ y = -1 - 2 = -3 \]

Thus, we have \( x = 2 \) and \( y = -3 \).

Finally, we verify our solution by substituting \( x \) and \( y \) back into equation (1):

\[ 37(2) + 82(-3) = 74 - 246 = -172 \]

Both equations are satisfied.

Therefore, the value of \( x \) is

\[ \boxed{2} \]