[Math] How to calculate the number of integral points inside an area

coordinate systemslinear algebra

How many integral solutions (x, y) exist satisfying the equation |y| + |x| ≤ 4

My approach:

I have made the graph after opening the the modulus in the above equation by making four equations.

Now it is a square with co-ordinates (4,0)(0,4)(-4,0)(0,-4).

Now I am stuck and don't know how to calculate integral solutions. It should be integral boundary points plus the integral points inside the area.

I know about the Pick's theorem in which we can find the integral points by using area and boundary points but I need to know how to calculate the integral points without it.

Answer is 41.
In my book it is given as 9+2(7+5+3+1)=41 [which I am not getting]

Kindly help in solving the same.

Best Answer

Clearly, $0\le|x|\le4\implies -4\le x\le 4 $

If we need to find the number of integral points inside the area $|x|+|y|=4$

For $0\le a\le4,$ if $x= \pm a,|x|=a,|y|\le 4-a\iff -(4-a)\le x\le 4-a,$ so $x$ can assume $2(4-a)+1=9-2a$ values including $0$

If $a=0,a=-a,x$ can assume $2(4-0)+1=9$ values

So, the number integer points will be $9+2\sum_{1\le r\le 4}(9-2a),$ the multiplier $2$ is due to the fact that there is one $-a$ for each integer $a\in[1,4]$

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