Find the sum of all positive integers and satisfying the above equation.
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The given equation can be reduced to the form :
( x y ) y = y x . Hence x must be an integral power of y . Say x = y n where n is a positive integer (since x is a positive integer).
Then y ( n + 1 ) y = y y n ⟹ y n − 1 = n + 1 . For n ≥ 4 , y can never be an integer. So, let us consider the following cases :
1 n = 0
In this case, x = y 0 = 1 . Then 1 y = y 1 − y ⟹ y 1 − y = 1 ⟹ y = 1 .
2 n = 1
In this case, y y = y 0 = 1 ⟹ y = 1 = x .
3 n = 2
In this case, y = 3 ⟹ x = 3 2 = 9 .
4 n = 3
In this case, y 2 = 4 ⟹ y = 2 , x = 2 3 = 8 .
Hence, the sum of all the values of x and y is 1 + 1 + 9 + 3 + 8 + 2 = 2 4 .