What is 2 + 2? = 4

What is 2 * 2? = 4
So, the sum and the product of these two numbers is the same. Are there other numbers that have this same property? Yes
Determine all number pairs x and y such that the product of x and y and the sum of x and y are equal. Make sure to show your work and to explain and justify your solutions.

Thanks so much,
Kylie

Hi Kylie,

The answer is no. Remember that multiplication is different than addition. When you add duplicates it is the sum of itself in ones. When you multiply duplicates you are adding the number by the number of times by itself.
1+1= 1+1 or 2
1x1=1

2+2=4 equals 1+1,1+1
2x2=4 equals 2+2 or 4

3+3= 6 or 1+1+1, 1+1+1, 1+1+1
3x3= 3+3+3 or nine

4+4= 8 1+1+1+1, 1+1+1+1, 1+1+1+1, 1+1+1+1
4x4= 4+4+4+4
etc. Do you see the pattern?
So each number up from one will be more when the number is multiplied by its self.
Make sense?