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Algebra Difficulty 2.2 Junior Find the answer

If x x and y y are positive integers with x>y x>y and x+xy=391 x+x y=391 , what is the value of x+y x+y ?

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Since x+xy=391 x+x y=391 , then x(1+y)=391 x(1+y)=391 . We note that 391=1723 391=17 \cdot 23 . Since 17 and 23 are both prime, then if 391 is written as the product of two positive integers, it must be 1×391 1 \times 391 or 17×23 17 \times 23 or 23×17 23 \times 17 or 391×1 391 \times 1 . Matching x x and 1+y 1+y to these possible factors, we obtain (x,y)=(1,390)(x, y)=(1,390) or (17,22)(17,22) or (23,16)(23,16) or (391,0)(391,0). Since y y is a positive integer, the fourth pair is not possible. Since x>y x>y , the first two pairs are not possible. Therefore, (x,y)=(23,16)(x, y)=(23,16) and so x+y=39 x+y=39 .

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