5 - 4 = 1 is too easy !!!

Can you generate '1' using only 5 and 4 ?

You can use any Mathematical expression,any method suitable...stupidity is on.

But the challenge is you cannot use any other numbers,you can use 5 and 4 only once and you cannot use '-'(minus) sign.

I know 4 possible methods...Can you find still more ?

#ComputerScience #Mathsfun #Brainteasers #Puzzles

Note by Vinay Sipani
7 years ago

No vote yet
1 vote

  Easy Math Editor

This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments should further the discussion of math and science.

When posting on Brilliant:

  • Use the emojis to react to an explanation, whether you're congratulating a job well done , or just really confused .
  • Ask specific questions about the challenge or the steps in somebody's explanation. Well-posed questions can add a lot to the discussion, but posting "I don't understand!" doesn't help anyone.
  • Try to contribute something new to the discussion, whether it is an extension, generalization or other idea related to the challenge.
  • Stay on topic — we're all here to learn more about math and science, not to hear about your favorite get-rich-quick scheme or current world events.

MarkdownAppears as
*italics* or _italics_ italics
**bold** or __bold__ bold

- bulleted
- list

  • bulleted
  • list

1. numbered
2. list

  1. numbered
  2. list
Note: you must add a full line of space before and after lists for them to show up correctly
paragraph 1

paragraph 2

paragraph 1

paragraph 2

[example link](https://brilliant.org)example link
> This is a quote
This is a quote
    # I indented these lines
    # 4 spaces, and now they show
    # up as a code block.

    print "hello world"
# I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.

print "hello world"
MathAppears as
Remember to wrap math in \( ... \) or \[ ... \] to ensure proper formatting.
2 \times 3 2×3 2 \times 3
2^{34} 234 2^{34}
a_{i-1} ai1 a_{i-1}
\frac{2}{3} 23 \frac{2}{3}
\sqrt{2} 2 \sqrt{2}
\sum_{i=1}^3 i=13 \sum_{i=1}^3
\sin \theta sinθ \sin \theta
\boxed{123} 123 \boxed{123}

Comments

The four solutions that i know are:

  1. The most basic: Tan(45)=1
  2. 5%4=1 which is same as remainder when 5÷4
  3. 4=1\Im^{4}=1,where \Im is imaginary number.
  4. Condone me after reading this...

FIVE in Roman = V;\text{FIVE in Roman = V;} FOUR in Roman = IV.So,\text{FOUR in Roman = IV.So,} 45=IVV=I=1\frac{4}{5}=\frac{IV}{V}=I=1

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

5μ(4)5^{\mu(4)} is also posible, where μ\mu defines the MOBIUS function.

tasmeem reza - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

Yes...thats right👍👍 Good use of MOBIUS function

Vinay Sipani - 6 years, 11 months ago

even cotan(45)=1

Alamuru Ganesh - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

yup..right.👍👍

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

even cot(45)=1

5 (mod 4) = 1

Mehul Arora - 6 years, 5 months ago

5-4=1

Mehul Arora - 6 years, 7 months ago

ddx(x+54)=1\frac{d}{dx}(x+54)=1

tasmeem reza - 6 years, 5 months ago

Woahh, allaww

Noor Haadi - 7 years ago

Same thing as 5-4 but looks different 45dx=1\int _{ 4 }^{ 5 }{ dx } = 1 Lol. X'D

Log in to reply

yess....even this is possible👍👍

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Nicely done, didn't see that.

Sharky Kesa - 7 years ago

Gamma(5)4!=1\dfrac { Gamma(5) }{ 4! } =1

Michael Mendrin - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Could u explain what the gamma() function's purpose

Tanya Gupta - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

The factorial n!n! is originally defined only for positive integers nn, so 18th century mathematicians came up with an integral Gamma(t)=Γ(t)=0xt1exdx Gamma(t)=\Gamma (t)=\int _{ 0 }^{ \infty }{ { x }^{ t-1 }{ { e } }^{ -x }dx } that has properties similar to the factorial, but defined for all real and complex numbers tt (except 00 and negative integers). It works out that Γ(t)=(t1)!\Gamma (t)=(t-1)!. A very versatile function, the gamma function is one of the most widely used functions in mathematics.

Michael Mendrin - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

@Michael Mendrin Woah!!!...thank you so much!!!

Tanya Gupta - 7 years ago

@Michael Mendrin Mike, Don't you think the expression Gamma(t) = (t-1)! still has - which contradicts the basic condition.. Excellent knowledge though

Vinod Kumar Hv - 7 years ago

Aw yes. :-)

yeah...never thought of this...👌👍

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Can you please tell me what is it's actual meaning? Like 8! means 8(8-1)(8-2)......(8-7) so what is the meaning of -2! ?? @Michael Mendrin

Harsh Shrivastava - 6 years, 2 months ago

54\lfloor{\frac {5}{4}}\rfloor or 45\lceil{\frac {4}{5}}\rceil

Sharky Kesa - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

In a similar way, 45,54 \lfloor \sqrt[5]{4} \rfloor, \lfloor \sqrt[4]{5} \rfloor etc will also work.

Chung Kevin - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Or 54\lfloor{\sqrt{\frac {5}{4}}}\rfloor and 45\lceil{\sqrt{\frac {4}{5}}}\rceil

Sharky Kesa - 7 years ago

Thas possible...greatest integer function..👍

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

5 and 4 are used twice

vikrant6 Bhatia - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

No, they're not. They are used only once in each expression. I have written them separately.

Sharky Kesa - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

@Sharky Kesa It's for Kevin's solution.

Joshua Ong - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

@Joshua Ong Same goes for Kevin's solution.

Sharky Kesa - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

@Sharky Kesa Ah yes ty I was misled too -_-

Joshua Ong - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

@Joshua Ong LOL :D

Sharky Kesa - 6 years, 11 months ago

54=15 \oplus 4 = 1

Ammar Fathin Sabili - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

this made my day....ahahahah

Varshith Reddy - 7 years ago

Whats the sign between 5 and 4???

Tanya Gupta - 7 years ago

You need to describe the modulo number i.e.5845 \bigoplus_84 for which an extra 8 is required.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

It's not modulo, but an XOR operation, :)

Ammar Fathin Sabili - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

@Ammar Fathin Sabili ohkk.....thats right....superb 👍👍👌

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

ln(exp(5)exp(4))=1 \ln \left({\frac{\exp{(5)}}{\exp{(4)}}}\right)=1

Zakaria Sellami - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

Wow....superb !!Gud one👌👌

This one's right.

Edit it to Ln instead of log...

Vinay Sipani - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

I wrote it ln then changed it to log, thought that in english countries, log refers to the natural logarithm. Anyway I'm editing it again :)

Zakaria Sellami - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

@Zakaria Sellami Yeah...or else logelog_e is also used.

However Ln seems better...:)

Vinay Sipani - 6 years, 11 months ago

5 mod 4 =1

Tanya Gupta - 7 years ago

Greatest integer(5/4)

Kushagra Jaiswal - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Yes..this one is possible.

3 more ways are possible.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Signum(5+4), Signum(5×4) Signum(5÷4)

Kushagra Jaiswal - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

@Kushagra Jaiswal sgn function is another way. Avoid the functions which always generate 1 for a constant.

Again,find the other ways...

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

gcd(4,5)=1\gcd(4,5)=1

cis(45°)=1|cis(45°)|=1

Log in to reply

yeah....cool solution...gud one ✌👍

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

ϕ(5)4=1 \frac{\phi(5)}{4} = 1

Tan Li Xuan - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

On a similar note of numerical functions, d(4)d(5)=1d(4)-d(5)=1 where d(n)=d(n)=the number of positive divisors of n.

Xuming Liang - 7 years ago

yup...another solution..

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

v4(5!)=1v_4(5!) = 1

Michael Tang - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Speechless.......

Zi Song Yeoh - 7 years ago

What is ν\nu function ???

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Highest power of a prime that divides something.In this case it is not used properly, because 4 is not a prime.

Bogdan Simeonov - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

@Bogdan Simeonov I believe the function can still be used... This also works: v5(4!)=1.v_5(\lceil \sqrt{4!} \,\rceil) = 1.

Michael Tang - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

@Michael Tang yes it works...

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Gcd(5,4)=1 The easiest one

Mardokay Mosazghi - 7 years ago

signum(45),or anything which invlove 4 and 5(but real)

Tejasvi Singh - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

yes...signum function is possible...It is a function which always gives 1 for any constant.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

totient funtion of 5 / 4

Alamuru Ganesh - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

yeah...its possible

(Totient of 5)/4

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

tan(45)=1

integer(5/4)=1 (we use in C language int(a/b) to get integer quotient)

surendra singh - 7 years ago

5 modulo 4=1

Basant K Jha - 7 years ago

Is this possible 5 + 4i^2

n c - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

This gives 1 but extra 2 cant be used as in i^2.

Vinay Sipani - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

Just write it like this: 5+4i×i=15+4i \times i=1

Zakaria Sellami - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

@Zakaria Sellami Yeah...now it's possible.. Gud 1👍👍

Vinay Sipani - 6 years, 11 months ago

@Zakaria Sellami Much bypass though.

Joshua Ong - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

@Joshua Ong Even like that is not correct; used the imaginary number i i while any number other than 55 or 44 cannot be used.

Zakaria Sellami - 6 years, 11 months ago

d(σ(σ(σ(σ(σ(5))))))d(σ(σ(σ(σ(σ(4))))))=1\frac{d(\sigma(\sigma(\sigma(\sigma(\sigma(5))))))}{d(\sigma(\sigma(\sigma(\sigma(\sigma(4))))))} = 1

Samuraiwarm Tsunayoshi - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

Lawl is that too much... =="

Samuraiwarm Tsunayoshi - 6 years, 11 months ago

Where d(n)d(n) is the number of divisors of n and σ(n)\sigma(n) is the sum of divisors of n.

Samuraiwarm Tsunayoshi - 6 years, 11 months ago

In programming languages (int)5/4=1

Hari Mohan - 6 years, 11 months ago

(5/4) × (4/5) = 1.25 x 0.8 = 1 QED

M Bilal Giga - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

The condition is you cannot use 5 and 4 more than once.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Ah fair enough

M Bilal Giga - 7 years ago

small omega of 5 / small omega of 4 ( note small omega counts the number of distinct prime factors )

Alamuru Ganesh - 7 years ago

The most obvious gcd(5,4)=1gcd(5,4)=1

Also, φ(5)4=1\frac{\varphi(5)}{4}=1

Bogdan Simeonov - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

yep..The gcd(5,4) is the most obvious.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

No offence to maths but 4 = IV and 5 = V in roman numerals. So IV/V = I ( after cancelling V on both sides) = 1

Utkarsh Dwivedi - 7 years ago

5%4

Jude D'silva - 7 years ago

gcd (4,5)=1

sunitha bhadragiri - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

what does ceil and floor mean

kaivalya swami - 7 years ago

ceil(4/5),floor(5/4)

Sushant Ranade - 7 years ago

(1) 5%4

manoj patial - 7 years ago

5%4 (mod)=1

Dushyant Vyas - 7 years ago

5%4.

Mohit Gupta - 7 years ago

5%4

Ishan Dixit - 7 years ago

sum to infinity of i=1 (4*5^-i) //sorry but i don't know how to write the notation

Youssef Hafez - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

i=14×5i\sum_{i=1}^{\infty}4×5^{-i}

The expression gives the value 1 but extra 1 and \infty cannot be used.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

(5+4)/(5+4)

John Errol Obia - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

you've broken the rules

Priyesh Pandey - 6 years, 11 months ago

Hi Vinay this discussion is a good food for thought....Next

Try to express 0 to 9 numerals using the digit 3 only. One hint is using factorial may come in handy...

Deepak Gowda - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Thank you...

Generating 0 to 100 will be more interesting..I think you should post a note on it...

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Also post its link in this note as a comment...

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Here, I've created a note for this.

Kenny Lau - 6 years, 11 months ago

  1. 45\lceil \frac{4}{5} \rceil

Happy Melodies - 7 years ago

tan 45

Rohan Lad - 7 years ago

5/4=1

Solution : int a=5,b=4,c; c=a/b; (hence c=1)

Weerdhaval Chowgule - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Ya....and even c=5%4

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

5%4=1

G C KEERTHI Vasan - 6 years, 12 months ago

5 modulo 4

Debarati Biswas - 6 years, 11 months ago

5 = 101 (binary notation) 4 = 100 So. 5 xor 4 = 001

Kunal Krishna - 6 years, 11 months ago

Cot45= 1

Husain Kennedy - 6 years, 11 months ago

5% 4

Saneel Velangkar - 6 years, 11 months ago

⌊ln(5.4)⌋

Kenny Lau - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log54 to the base 54

Aman Chaudhary - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

5 and 4 can be used only once..

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

(5 xor 4) in binary

dead call - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

@Dead Call Yes....This is possible even...gr8

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

5/4 remainder is 1 5mod4 is 1

Arun Sowri - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

5%4=1...Yes,thats one of the ways that I knew.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

totient function of 4 x .5

Alamuru Ganesh - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

here 0.5 is not possible...

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

-(4-5)=1 The mirror effect

Tran Quan - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

No minus sign.........

Utkarsh Dwivedi - 7 years ago

5%4 =1 , 5\oplus4 = 1, 54\lfloor\frac {5}{4} \rfloor =1, 45\lceil \frac {4}{5} \rceil =1 ,

Gaurav Sharma - 7 years ago

5%4 = 1 :P .. The % is the modulus sign.. It gives the remainder of 2 non- floating numbers ! As the remainder for floating numbers is zero always!

akshay vishwanath - 7 years ago

*5 mod 4 =1; *(5+4) mod 4=1;

Sam Indhu - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

5 (mod 4) is possible but (5+4)(mod 4) is not possible...only one time 5...

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

oh....kk sry

Sam Indhu - 7 years ago

(factorial(5)/factorial(4))/5

M kashif - 7 years ago

5-4 floor(5/4) ceiling(5/4) 54/54

1= 5!/(5×4!)

anshul shivhare - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

5 and 4 only once...

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

5#/4!

Ronq Vader - 7 years ago

abs(5/4)

Piyush Patnaik - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Why not 5 mod 4 p^2

(Actually p^2 is Piyush Patnaik)

ashutosh mahapatra - 7 years ago

floor(ln(5)/ln(4)) and ceil(ln(4)/ln(5)) I hope ln(x), the natural logarithm, is acceptable here.

Sadie Robinson - 7 years ago

Mod(5,4)

Muhammad Riaz - 7 years ago

(4/5)X(5/4)

BISWAJIT MOHANTY - 7 years ago

(5*4)^0 =1

Brahmam Meka - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

0 not allowed and

5 and 4 not allowed twice.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Dim x as integer; x=5/4

Dave Dave - 7 years ago

5%4=1 what say guys ?

Ajit Panada - 7 years ago

We can use 5 XNOR 4 == 1 101 XNOR 100 == 1 What you say?

ARUN GUPTA - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

5 xnor 4 = 101100=001=110\overline{101\bigoplus100} = \overline{001}=110

But 5 xor 1 = 001.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Sorry my fault, It's not a valid solution. Solution should be like, we can not only use 5 and 4? ryte?

ARUN GUPTA - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

@Arun Gupta 5 and 4 to be used only once and no other numbers.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

(cos 5) ^2 + (sin 5) ^2 = 1

Deepak Gowda - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

2 cannot be used.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

can i use concantenation?

(54)54=1 \frac{(5|4)}{54} = \boxed{1}

Barjuan Davis - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

You can use concatenations

But two times 5 and 4 not allowed.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

Using Exclusive OR gate. 5=101(b) 4=100(b) In Ex-OR logic output will high if input level is different. Here after computation output is 001(b) its decimal is 1

Sajedul Mesuk - 7 years ago

Write a comment or ask a question... 5!/(5*4!)=1

Aryan Tomar - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

No two times 5

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

5%4 = 1

Ferdose Ashraf - 7 years ago

5 \times 4 / 5\times 4

Vidul Ap - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

5 and 4 can be used only once...

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

5 modules 4 = 1

rajat sharma - 7 years ago

5/4

Стэн Марш - 6 years, 12 months ago

5^{0} \times 4^{0}

Dhruva Kothari - 6 years, 12 months ago

Log in to reply

Good one but you used 0

Zakaria Sellami - 6 years, 11 months ago

can you please explain the notation....??

charvi vitthal - 6 years, 12 months ago

Log in to reply

It is 5 raised to 0 divided by 4 raised to 0

Weerdhaval Chowgule - 6 years, 12 months ago

Log in to reply

@Weerdhaval Chowgule ohkk... :)

charvi vitthal - 6 years, 12 months ago

5×4=20.Then 20÷20=1

Kiran Dhamane - 6 years, 11 months ago

!0

Cleiston Rodrigues - 6 years, 11 months ago

The 3 solution i no is Lint of 4/5 Zint of 5/4 Tan45

Shehzada Shehzada - 6 years, 11 months ago

(4-5)^{2}

A Former Brilliant Member - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

'-' sign should not be used and extra numbers cant be used.

Vinay Sipani - 6 years, 11 months ago

Mine is easier 5/4 x 4/5

Hafizh Ahsan Permana - 6 years, 11 months ago

((5×4)/5)/4 or ((4×5)/4)/5. They work

Nathan Blanco - 6 years, 11 months ago

(5^2+4^2+4)/45

Sanjay Mohan - 6 years, 11 months ago

( 5 / 4 ) * ( 4 / 5 ) or ( 5 / 5 ) / (4 / 4) something like this :D

Mario Medhat - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

Nope...you cant use 5 and 4 two times.

Vinay Sipani - 6 years, 11 months ago

Tan(45)=1

Lina .... - 6 years, 11 months ago

y=54xthen[d2ydx2]!=1y\quad =\quad 54x\\ then\\ { [\frac { { d }^{ 2 }y }{ d{ x }^{ 2 } } ] }!\\ =1

Rudresh Tomar - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

You cannot use 2...

Vinay Sipani - 6 years, 5 months ago

4 mod(5)=1

dinesh c - 6 years, 10 months ago

5%4 = 1 ie., 5 modulus of 4 = 1

Vasanthakumar Chandrasekaran - 6 years, 8 months ago

5mod4,54,45,round54,round45Γ(5)4!,cot(45deg)5\quad mod\quad 4,\quad \left\lfloor \frac { 5 }{ 4 } \right\rfloor ,\quad \left\lceil \frac { 4 }{ 5 } \right\rceil ,\quad round\frac { 5 }{ 4 } ,round\frac { 4 }{ 5 } \\ \frac { \Gamma (5) }{ 4! } ,\quad cot(45deg)

Archit Boobna - 6 years, 6 months ago

5%4=1or equivalently 5mod4=1

Priyesh Pandey - 6 years, 5 months ago

γ4!\dfrac{\gamma}{4!} =11

Parth Lohomi - 6 years, 5 months ago

uuhgjjjjk

Tergel Myagmarsaikhan - 6 years, 4 months ago

(5/4)*(4/5)

irisae jade - 6 years, 3 months ago

sin(4+5)=0.3955...=1\sin{(4+5)}={\lceil}{0.3955...}{\rceil}={\boxed{1}}

Matin Naseri - 2 years, 10 months ago

5^4

Sagar Sharma - 7 years ago

54/54 =1,45/45=1,5%4=1,(5*5)%4!

Radha Krishnan B - 7 years ago

Taking (5+4)- (4+4) = 1

Ahmad Bashir - 7 years ago

[5/4]

Shantnu Patlan - 7 years ago

a^0 = 1

Vhie Yaa Jesus - 6 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

Nope....0 not to be used.

Vinay Sipani - 6 years, 11 months ago

f\left( x \right)=x\ f(5)-f(4)=1

Shrajan Vetcha - 6 years, 11 months ago

How about .5 repeated plus .4 repeated? Does that break the rule for multiple usages of the digits if the horizontal line notation is used?

Brendan Caseria - 6 years, 10 months ago

Log in to reply

yep..breaks the rule.

Vinay Sipani - 6 years, 9 months ago

(5×4)/(10×2)

rohan chaudhary - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

10 and 2 cant be used.

Vinay Sipani - 6 years, 11 months ago

54/54

kaivalya swami - 7 years ago

(54)/(54)

Brahmam Meka - 7 years ago

5 x 4 -19

Elita Zheng - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

nvm... Can't have a - sign

Elita Zheng - 7 years ago

(54)/(54)

Vidul Ap - 7 years ago

5^0 times 4^0 = 1

Vicneswaran Vicnes - 7 years ago

Log in to reply

Wrong answer 0 can't be used

Sampad Kar - 7 years ago

nope...0 cant be used.

Vinay Sipani - 7 years ago

I'LL BLOW ALL OF YOUR MINDS!!!! |4-5|=1

Nathan Blanco - 6 years, 11 months ago
×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...