Create the number 24 using only these numbers once each: 3, 3, 7, 7. You may use only the rules of addition, multiplication and division.
(In reply to
re: no brackets by Timothy)
3 3/7 * 7
"Three and three sevenths" times "seven".
Nevermind the fact that in order to get the mixed number into your calculator as a decimal, you have to do the division first then add three. There's no need for parentheis or even worrying about orders of operation. If you convert the mixed number to an improper fraction you get 24/7 * 7 ("twenty-four sevenths times seven") The sevens obviously cancel each other out leaving 24 and you never even need to do the division. Seems to me that the whole argument over order of operations and parenthesis stems from too much reliance on calculators.
:-)
re(2): no brackets
