Use of extended euclidean algorithm in solving a system, of linear Diophantine equations with bounded variables

Abstract

We develop an algorithm to generate the set of all solutions to a system of linear Diophantine equations with lower and upper bounds on the variables. The algorithm is based on the Euclid's algorithm for computing the GCD of rational numbers. We make use of the ability to parametrise the set of all solutions to a linear Diophantine equation in two variables with a single parameter. The bounds on the variables are translated to bounds on the parameter. This is used progressively by reducing a n variable problem into a two variable problem. Computational experiments indicate that for a given number of variables the running times decreases with the increase in the number of equations in the system. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.