22. The numbers $x$ and $y$ satisfy both of the equations
$$
23 x+977 y=2023 \quad \text { and } \quad 977 x+23 y=2977 .
$$

What is the value of $x^{2}-y^{2}$ ?
A 1
B 2
C 3
D 4
E 5
22. E Adding both equations gives: $1000 x+1000 y=5000$. So $x+y=5$.
Subtracting the first equation from the second gives: $954 x-954 y=954$. Therefore $x-y=1$. Hence $x^{2}-y^{2}=(x+y)(x-y)=5 \times 1=5$.