How large can you make it?
Shift exactly 2 matchsticks to another position. What is the largest positive integer than can be formed?
Details and Assumptions :
- Form a regular number by moving just 2 matchsticks.
- Use of exponents / mathematical signs / tricks is not allowed.
- Rotating / turning the figure is not allowed.
- All digits look like this: (for clarifying the shape of digits)
The answer is 511108.
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2 solutions
Moderator note:
Now what would the answer be if you can shift exactly 3 matchsticks instead?
Well, using the "digital" clock shape for digits imply that the spacing should be preserved, i.e. 4 digits only. It's like when your old digital clock or calculator display 11, they still occupy two full spaces. So following that logic, the biggest number would be 9909
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my answer is 9909 too
Unfortunately, you are mistaken. Let say the spacing (like you said) you can move the top right and bottom left matchstick from the number 8. Then just add it to the ending giving us 50,051.
I agree, 9909.
9909 not 9999
I believe too
In fact, following that rules the maximum number is 15005 Is move two sticks of the 8 and make an 1
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Wouldn't the max, following those rules be, 151105
Same here, 9909
i agree too
that is what i felt as well..
No it would be 15003 then
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No, 50031, You put number 1 to the right ;)
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@Anh Vu – You can make a 5 rather than a 3 to get 50051
then why not 51003? it is more preferable..
i did it the same way
then it would be 91188 if spacing is same!!
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You can also make 98118 in the same way, which is larger.
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@Ivaylo Belev – oh! yes! thanks!
@Ivaylo Belev – 98118 is not greater than 511108 !!
No, it would be 50051 (take two matches from the right-side 0 and make a one to the right of that).
How would you get 9909 only shifting two matchsticks? You use one up turning the 5 into a 9, so how could you change 3 more integers moving just one matchstick?? Or were you doing the follow-up question, which allowed three moves? But you still couldn't do that with only 3 either, I don't think.
I think that, if we're preserving the 4-digit place structure, the max is 9800.
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Dear Sandra, this is how u get 9909. Shift the stick of second digit to convert 0 to 9. Shift the stick of last digit 8 (making it 9) to first digit converting 5 to 9.
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@Satyen Nabar – But 9s don't have a horizontal line at the bottom!
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@Sandra Shill – Dear Sandra, the question posed has a crystal clear guideline about how the digits should appear !
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@Satyen Nabar – Sorry - you're right...I didn't see that part of the guidelines. Thanks! :)
by moving the bottom left stick of the last digit to the first digit, you can produce two nines. You then only need to rotate the bottom left stick of the 2nd digit to the mid-horizontal position of the 2nd digit to make your 3rd.
it can be 9803
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@Katherine Hong – ??? What do you mean "write a comment or ask a question"? I'm all set now, thanks.
I agree with Sandra!
oh dang, I thought we could only have 4 digits :\
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Even I was tricked. So to obtain satisfaction , I created this problem . Hope you also get satisfied :) :) :)
In response to Challenge Master: Is the required number 9 1 1 1 0 9 ?
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In response to Challenge Master: ?
It probably is.
Throws the spacing off though by creating that number.
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511081 just would be cleaner
I didn't know I could add numbers in the middle and I got 511081. I think I deserve it. Please reply on your thoughts about preserving spacing.
this is the right answer of shift 3 sticks 911109
Not specified how many digits. It should practically be 4 hence making the answer 9909.
The fair solution is 9909 :)
tell me why ??? I just think It must have 4 digits :((
Isn't creating new spaces considered a trick? You said no tricks. Anyways it's still a great question 👍
For three matchsticks would the biggest number be 911109?
Too much fun, this one.
Very nice and easy question @satyen nabar Sir, Please keep posting!
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Tx Swapnil :)
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Try this .
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@Nihar Mahajan – Thanks! for making my Brain Exercise.
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@Swapnil Das – Do like and reshare it (if possible). Thanks.
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@Nihar Mahajan – Sure! oh.. I have one try left!
@Nihar Mahajan – Tx. Solved it. Nice Nihar..
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@Satyen Nabar – Here's a big smile: ⌣ ¨ .
@Satyen Nabar – Sir Can you please post some more logic problems?
it was really nice... :D
911180 by shifting 1 stick from 5 and by moving one stick from 8 to 0
i thought it would be 4 digit
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Yes, I has to be 4 digit n answer 9909 by moving just 2 sticks
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It doesnt sy anywhere that it has to be 4 digits... you made that up yourself
I'd move only one match and make it the largest possible value. I'd take the one in the middle of number 8 to make it 0, and put it in between the 2nd 0 and the new 0 like a slash that indicates division. The result: 500/0 = infinity haha
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Use of mathematical signs is not allowed.
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Oh dang it. Ok.
Aside from the other comments, 500/0 is not infinity. Why? Because multiplication is the inverse of division. If 500 / 0 = infinity, then: infinity * 0 = 500. Yet, that is not the case. Therefore, 500 / 0 = undefined, not infinity.
911109 That would have been the answer, If we could move 3 matches
911109 in response to challenge master note
3 matchsticks? 911109
I thought when it said no Rotating / turning it was referring to the matches as well. So vertical matches had to stay vertical.
In this suposed correct answer you have rotated the match , It was not allowed . In my opinion the correct is 9900 using exactly the vertical and horizontal matches
its 9909 occupying the same number of digits
911100
what i think so it could be
You say that rotating is not allowed :v so how can you form the above picture
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I believe you can rotate individual matchsticks, just not entire numbers
My answer to the 3 matches questions is 911109
911109 will be the answer if exactly 3 matchsticks were shifted.
I think 500^5 = 31250000000000 .
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS...it's pressuring cause it's too deep to analyze!
for the second piece of the puzzle can you be a bit more specific than in the first one? shift three from the original setup up or from 511108. be specific!
Good Problem! Didn't thought about increasing the number of digits.
AAAAAAARGH!!! Got 511081 on my third iteration!!! How could I?!
Another answer is 811105...point of view...
Yes but the creator of this puzzle mentioned that we need to do it without rotating the figure
Details and Assumptions:
Rotating / turning the figure is not allowed.