These are the initials decimals of pi and e:

Decimals of pi: 1415926535897932384626433832795...
Decimals of e : 7182818284590452353602874713526...

Without rearranging the order of the digits, add any quantity of parentheses and arithmetic signs +, -, *, / (with same manner in both line) so that to make correct arithmetic expressions equally to 2003, using the least possible number of symbols. You have to use the digits starting from the left one, and the same numbers of digits in each case.

Example for number 11, using the first 5 digits:

- (1 * 4) + 1 + 5 + 9 = 11
- (7 * 1) + 8 + 2 + 8 = 11

These two expression contains 12 symbols (5 digits, 2 parentheses and 5 arithmetic signs).

(In reply to easy as pi e by brad)

Good joke (pi e).

Brad, in the source from where I extracted this very hard problem, there are two answers, both using 21 symbols. I donīt know if there is a solution with less symbols. Why donīt you try?

Hold "five fives" for a while. I need about 260 more comments in this problem to it be "the most commented problem", and win a pie from Perplexus!!! 

How about the solution with 13 digits?

Posted by pcbouhid on 2005-10-14 12:06:01