English

Non-Negative Integer Linear Congruences

Number Theory 2012-05-16 v1

Abstract

We consider the problem of describing all non-negative integer solutions to a linear congruence in many variables. This question may be reduced to solving the congruence x1+2x2+3x3+...+(n1)xn10(modn)x_1 + 2x_2 + 3x_3 + ... + (n-1)x_{n-1} \equiv 0 \pmod n where values of the unknowns, xix_i, are sought among the non-negative integers. We consider the monoid of solutions of this equation and prove a conjecture of Elashvili concerning the structure of these solutions. This yields a simple algorithm for generating most (conjecturally all) of the high degree indecomposable solutions of the equation.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.math/0409489,
  title  = {Non-Negative Integer Linear Congruences},
  author = {John C. Harris and David L. wehlau},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math/0409489},
  year   = {2012}
}

Comments

7 pages. This is the write up of some work we did 10 years ago and have not published up until now. It will be submitted for publication soon