1. Given two numbers (not necessarily integers), not equal to 0. If each of them is increased by one, their product will double. By what factor will their product increase if each of the original numbers is squared and then decreased by one? (D. Shiryayev, I. Rubanov)
Answer. 4 times. Solution. Let the numbers be denoted by $a$ and $b$. According to the condition, $(a+1)(b+1)=a b+a+b+1=2 a b$. By combining like terms in the last equality, we get $a b-a-b-1=0$, from which $(a-1)(b-1)=a b-a-b+1=2$ and $\left(a^{2}-1\right)\left(b^{2}-1\right)=(a-1)(b-1)(a+1)(b+1)=2 \cdot 2 a b=4 a b$.