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Simultaneous Equations (Posted on 2003-09-25) Difficulty: 3 of 5
No one can argue with the following equation:

√10 - 3 = √10 - 3

Add three lines to the right-hand side of the equation so that both sides are still equal.

  Submitted by DJ    
Rating: 3.0000 (15 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
The key idea here is that (√10 - 3)(√10 + 3) = 1.

The intended answer, and the one most pertinent to the specifics of this problem, is to change the - to a + on one side, and reciprocate that whole side, making:

√10 - 3 = 1/(√10 + 3)
Of course, the parentheses () will not be used in the actual drawing, but they are needed to clarify the above equation.

Other, more trivial solutions were suggested, such as multiplying either side by 1, or changing the 3 into |-3| (the absolute value of -3).

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
Some ThoughtsPuzzle ThoughtsK Sengupta2024-03-15 12:03:10
Some Thoughtsre: The SolutionK Sengupta2023-01-10 08:59:08
Some ThoughtsSome ThoughtsK Sengupta2007-05-25 11:45:16
Along the Same LinesRoyCook2003-10-07 11:03:47
SolutionNew Alternate SolutionRoyCook2003-10-07 10:51:05
re(3): alternate solutionFatBoy2003-10-03 10:24:50
re(2): alternate solutionJeff2003-09-26 22:36:15
re: alternate solutionjaypee2003-09-26 20:48:19
Solutionalternate solutionJeff2003-09-26 19:13:50
this COULD workmatt white2003-09-26 02:48:18
adding three linesjaypee2003-09-25 21:59:07
SolutionSolutionTristan2003-09-25 19:51:17
re:Angelavender2003-09-25 19:42:38
No SubjectAngelavender2003-09-25 19:40:07
re(2): Trivial solutionBrian Smith2003-09-25 15:23:33
The SolutionBrian Smith2003-09-25 15:22:48
re: Trivial solutionCharlie2003-09-25 15:21:31
SImultaneous EquationsGordon Steel2003-09-25 15:02:03
Trivial solutionBrian Smith2003-09-25 14:31:14
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