Comments on: Number Patterns-Finding Numbers Whose Sum Equals Their Product

By: Karian

Karian — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:48:17 +0000

I’m looking around a bit for information about the problem for any number of integers. Just wanted to add something since you mention 2 solutions for 5 numbers.

for 5 numbers, there are actually 3 solutions:
1,1,1,2,5
1,1,1,3,3
1,1,2,2,2

I had a lot of help with the following article about the general problem. Now hoping to find a more recent one with still a bit more information:

http://www-users.mat.umk.pl/~anow/ps-dvi/si-krl-a.pdf

By: blombard

blombard — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:04:03 +0000

Hello footballplayer72,
Nice job-
Yes, that’s the pattern we found in class.
- Mr. L

By: ma

ma — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:52:14 +0000

2=2
2+2=2*2
1+2+3=1*2*3
2+4+1+1=1*1*2*4
1+2+1+2+2=2*1*1*1*2
2+5+1+1+1=1*5*2*1*1
2+6+1+1+1+1=…
2+7+1+1+1+1+1=…

i realize you can do the 2+x+(x-2)1s (where x is number of terms), but that seems to be the easy way out… is that the pattern you found?
(the first fits cause it becomes -1 1s and 1 1s which is 0 1s).

that seems very simple… no actual challenge. Unless i’m missing something?

By: blombard

blombard — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:25:12 +0000

Hello Mary,
Actually, the name of the poem and the contents are exactly the same.
I ask my students to “Zip the Lip” when I want them to work on a problem but not blurt out their answers.
It’s easy to remember and reminds them to be respectful of other students’ thinking time.
Cheers,
Mr. L

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:04:22 +0000

Okay Mr. L. What is the poem “Zip the Lip?” , who wrote it, where can I find it?

Thanks!