If we have two linear congruence and we want to use CRT to combine them, we have to find the intersection of the solution sets of these two linear congruence, right? For example, if I want to combine $n$ congruent to $a_1 (\text{mod} \ m_1)$ and $n$ congruent to $a_2 (\text{mod} \ m_2)$, then I have to first find the intersection of $[a_1]$ and $[a_2]$, right?
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1We do have to find the intersection, sort of. But not first. Use the CRT machinery. – André Nicolas Nov 12 '13 at 04:24
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I get it, thanks. BTW, how to close this question? – Slavica Nov 12 '13 at 04:28
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1I don't know. Do know that people do delete, sometimes when I am writing an answer. – André Nicolas Nov 12 '13 at 04:30
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I will just leave this here. Anyway, thank you very much. – Slavica Nov 12 '13 at 04:32
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You are welcome. – André Nicolas Nov 12 '13 at 04:33
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If you set up each congruence as linear equations equal to each other, you'll get $a_1 + m_1 x = a_2 + m_2 y \implies m_1 x - m_2 y = a_2 - a _1$
And then you'll only have to solve the linear diophantine equation. So you'll have to show that $gcd(m_1, m_2) | (a_2 - a_1)$ for there to be a solution set.
In calculating the greatest common divisor with the Euclidean algorithm, we can walk back the calculation to find a solution to $m_1 x' - m_2 y' = gcd(m_1, m_2)$
If we let $ k ={a_2 - a_1 \over gcd(m_1, m_2)}$ then $(x, y) = (kx', ky')$
And then we can use $n = a_1 + m_1 x = a_2 + m_2 y$ to represent the resultant intersection
${n \over gcd(m_1, m_2)} (mod$ $lcm(m_1, m_2))$
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