What is a simple way to solve this problem? I can do it by trying $x$ and $y$, starting from $1$. That does not look like the best way.
If $x$ and $y$ are positive numbers less than $20$ for which $x+y+xy=76$, what is $x+y$?
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$\begingroup$ Please check tag definitions before applying tags which have nothing to do with your question. This has nothing to do with factorials. $\endgroup$– JMoravitzJun 5, 2016 at 2:38
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2 Answers
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\begin{align}xy+x+y&=76\\ x(y+1)+y&=76\\ x(y+1)+y+1&=77\\ (x+1)(y+1)&=77 \end{align}
As $1,7,11,77$ are the only positive divisors of $77$, $(x,y)$ should be $(6,10)$ or $(10,6)$. Thus, $x+y=16$
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hint:$x+y+xy=76\implies x+y+xy+1=77\implies (x+1)(y+1)=77$
answered Jun 5, 2016 at 2:43