Four times the product of a number x and a number y is equal to 20.

Sure, here is the step by step solution:

Step 1: Understand the problem The problem states that four times the product of a number x and a number y is equal to 20. We can write this as an equation: 4xy = 20.

Step 2: Solve the equation To solve for one variable, we need to know the value of the other variable. If we don't have this information, we can only express one variable in terms of the other.

For example, if we want to solve for x, we can divide both sides of the equation by 4y:

x = 20 / (4y)

Simplify the equation:

x = 5 / y

So, the number x is equal to 5 divided by the number y.

Similarly, if we want to solve for y, we can divide both sides of the equation by 4x:

y = 20 / (4x)

Simplify the equation:

y = 5 / x

So, the number y is equal to 5 divided by the number x.

Without additional information, this is as far as we can go in solving the problem.