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I want to know the notation of a set $\mathcal{S} $ containing all $y $ that satisfy an equation $y = ax + b$ with $x \in \mathbb{Z}$, for example $2x - 5$ or $\pi x + \frac {5}{2}\pi$.

For instance, given the equation $y = 2x + 3$ ($x \in \mathbb{Z}$), the set of solutions would be $\mathcal{S} = \{\dots , 1, 3, 5, \dots \} $.

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    $\begingroup$ How about $a\mathbb Z + b$? $\endgroup$
    – user251257
    Aug 10, 2016 at 21:31
  • $\begingroup$ So $\mathcal{S} = a\mathbb{Z} + b$ or $\mathcal{S} = \{ y | y = a\mathbb{Z} + b \}$? $\endgroup$
    – Kevin
    Aug 10, 2016 at 21:34
  • $\begingroup$ $a\mathbb Z + b = \{ ax+b \mid x\in \mathbb Z \}$ $\endgroup$
    – user251257
    Aug 10, 2016 at 21:38

2 Answers 2

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the notation is simple. in general: $$ \mathcal S = \{\textrm{element} | \textrm{constraints to the element}\} $$ in this case you could write (most used notation): $$ \mathcal S = \{ax+b| x \in \mathbb Z\} $$ or equivalently: $$ \mathcal S = \{y \in \mathbb R|y=ax+b, x \in \mathbb Z\} $$ or for the most compactness: $$ \mathcal S = a \mathbb Z+b $$

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The response $a\mathbb{Z}+b$, given by others, is certainly correct. It is worth noticing, though, that this designation is not unique: if $b_1$ and $b_2$ are two numbers that differ only by a multiple of $a$, then $a\mathbb{Z}+b_1$ and $a\mathbb{Z}+b_2$ describe the exact same set.

For this reason, the specific example in the OP could be described by any of the following:

  • As $2\mathbb{Z}+3$
  • As $2\mathbb{Z}+1$
  • As $2\mathbb{Z}-1$
  • or indeed as $2\mathbb{Z}+n$ for any odd number $n$.
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  • $\begingroup$ true, i'm giving a +1 since this aspect is not covered in my answer $\endgroup$
    – Frank
    Aug 10, 2016 at 22:30

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