Consider the set $S$ of all integers of the form $x^2+y^2+4xy$, where $x$ and $y$ are integers. How could one prove the set $S$ is closed under multiplication? I have tried the bashy brute force method, but to no avail. Perhaps someone could help?
2026-04-03 14:07:05.1775225225
Proving the multiplicativity of a binary quadratic form
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2
$$x^2+4xy+y^2=(7x+2y)^2-3(4x+y)^2$$
$$(a+b\sqrt3)(c+d\sqrt3)=(ac+3bd)+(ad+bc)\sqrt3$$
$$(a^2-3b^2)(c^2-3d^2)=(ac+3bd)^2-3(ad+bc)^2$$
EDIT: The 1st formula can be used to show that integers of the form $x^2+4xy+y^2$ are the same as integers of the form $r^2-3s^2$. The 3rd formula shows that the set of integers of the form $r^2-3s^2$ is closed under multiplication. The 2nd formula is just something I have to write down to get me to the 3rd formula.