perplexus.info :: General : Matchstick Movement Muse

Matchstick Movement Muse (Posted on 2022-06-21)

 ---   ---       ---   ---      ---   --- 
|   | |             | |        |   | |   |
 ---   ---   +   ---   ---   +  ---   --- 
|   | |   |         | |   |        | |   |
 ---   ---       ---   ---      ---   --- 
   
    ---   --- 
   |   | |   |           
 =  ---   ---
   |   | |   |      
    ---   ---

Fifty-seven matchsticks are laid out to form the above-mentioned sum, which is obviously incorrect.

Make the above sum correct by:

Removing precisely two matchsticks.
Removing precisely eight matchsticks.

LEGEND
• Each --- counts as one stick.
• Each | counts as one stick.
• Each + counts as two sticks.
• The = counts as two sticks.

Submitted by K Sengupta

Rating: 5.0000 (1 votes)

Solution: (Hide)

Change the equation to 86-36+38=88 by removing the vertical stick from the first + and the top-left most vertical stick in the 9. That's 2 sticks removed.
For 8 sticks, change the equation to 86 - 36 + 34 = 84.
The removed amounts by character are 1,1,3, and 3.
In fact there are 341 ways of making a true equation by removing exactly 8 matchsticks (some have leading zeros as you can see below--255 remain if you exclude those with leading zero in the first summand or final total--the rest don't have any leading zeros.).
For full explanation, refer to the solution submitted by Charlie in this location.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)

Subject	Author	Date
No Subject	K Sengupta	2022-12-12 02:19:47
No Subject	jonemartin	2022-12-12 01:47:40
computer solution	Charlie	2022-06-21 11:33:02

Please log in:

Login:
Password:
Remember me:

Sign up! \| Forgot password

Search:

Search body:

Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (14)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:


perplexus dot info