Three Squares Make another Square?

Logic Level 1

1 4 9 = 16 \Huge 1\ \ \ \ 4 \ \ \ \ 9 \ \ = \ \ 16

Is it possible to make this equation true by inserting the appropriate operations? Any operations and functions can be used.

No Can't say Yes

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94 solutions

Anish Harsha
Dec 14, 2015

1 + 4 ! 9 = 16 \huge 1+4! -9 = 16

Here, ! ! refers to factorial .

factorial is not an operation it's a function

Petar Magenhajm - 5 years, 5 months ago

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But it also says that functions are also included ?

Ibrahim Jameel - 5 years, 5 months ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factorial "The factorial operation"

Mathspy Terabithian - 5 years, 5 months ago

It clearly says "Any operations and functions can be used."

Johnny Wright - 5 years, 5 months ago

Addition, multiplication, etc., are binary operators; factorial is a unary operator.

Joel Beil - 5 years, 5 months ago

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I agree with Mr. Beil; wrong questions always reaches wrong answers. The item of function doesn't clear here

carlos nino - 5 years, 5 months ago

Thank you! Geeezzz, some brilliance.

Ryan Harvey - 5 years, 5 months ago

1+4^2 - 9^0=1+16 -1=16. as X^0=1

Aqil Ahmad - 5 years, 5 months ago

Operations are functions. For example addition is just the function f(x,y)=x+y.

Jacob Winters - 5 years, 5 months ago

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If any operation or function can be used then everything is possible, just define your function accordingly. Makes the question crap

Colin O'Hare - 5 years, 5 months ago

and the question states any operation or function can be used

Julian Leech - 5 years, 5 months ago

You did it. Wonderful

Asif Anwar - 5 years, 5 months ago

When using 4! , you are adding the numbers 3, 2, and another 1. In order to make this equation correct with only the given numbers, you can only use those three numbers

Sina Nakhkoob - 5 years, 5 months ago

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factorial MULTIPLIES, doesn't add... 4!= 4 *3 *2 *1

Carl Stevens - 5 years, 5 months ago

This answer does not require the parentheses.

Robert Lucas - 5 years, 5 months ago

I did: 4! - (9-1) = 16 so same-ish

Liam Dello - 5 years, 5 months ago

Did the same :)

Surina M - 5 years, 5 months ago

Yes! I finally used the factorial correctly woooho I am learning.

Christian Gonnella - 5 years, 5 months ago

1.4 / .09 = 16

Tony Bautista - 5 years, 5 months ago

There are operations on nr 4, not allowed no?

NIck Ward - 3 years, 3 months ago

When you present a queition like this you should list what operators my be chosen. I did not understand question. Thus my answer of "Cant't say" was correct!

John Hemmer - 3 years ago

I guess these answers are fair enough. I was just limiting myself to the usual + - x /

David Punshon-Smith - 2 years, 11 months ago

My answer was the same as this!!

Rami 120 - 2 years, 10 months ago

1 + 4 + 9 = 16 - \sqrt{1} + \sqrt{4} + \sqrt{9} = \sqrt{16}

1 4 + 9 = 16 \sqrt{1} - \sqrt{4} + \sqrt{9} = \sqrt{\sqrt{16}}

Only possible because the current wording allows functions on the right hand side.

Henry U - 2 years, 5 months ago

Using power functions like square or square root introduce the numbers of 2 or 1/2 which are not present in the challenge. Using factorial introduces multiplication with 2 and 3 but maybe it is acceptable. Somehow the question for me is not well set as it says that we can use ANY operation of function. We can define a function f(x)=x+2 and I can have 1+f(4)+9 which will give me 16. So it is important to predefine what operations or functions we can use to solve this problem. As it is there are INFINITE number of solutions by defining your own functions that will lead to the desired result.

Geo Sittas - 2 years, 5 months ago

1 + 4 - 9 = SQRT(16)

1 + 4 - 9 = -4

SQRT(16) = -4

Jez Davis - 5 years, 5 months ago

10²/4-9=16

Ahmed Samir - 5 years, 5 months ago
Ashutosh Tripathi
Dec 20, 2015

1 _ 4 _ 9 = 16 1 \_ 4 \_ 9 = 16 ( 1 + 4 ) 2 9 = 16 (1+4)^{2}-9=16 ( 5 ) 2 9 = 16 (5)^{2}-9 = 16 25 9 = 16 25-9=16 16 = 16 16=16

You added a number, you can't just square it as you've effectively added the number 2

Zach Ross-Clyne - 5 years, 5 months ago

Squaring is adding a number that is not given

Alexandre Garcia - 5 years, 5 months ago

2 opreations on first 2 not allowed

NIck Ward - 3 years, 3 months ago

(1+4)^2 is not (5)^2 its (1+8+16) but it also gives you 25

ertyj ghjk - 5 years, 5 months ago

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Order of operations says you do whatever is inside parentheses first, then exponents. It really is (5)^2.

Sergey Karachenets - 5 years, 5 months ago

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simple BODMAS rule that is used here

harieharran senthilkumaran - 5 years, 5 months ago

You're using binomial expansion -- (1+4)^2 -> 1^2+2*4+4^2->1+8+16->25 -- which would be great if these were unknowns, but we DO know their values. You'd only use expansion if it were something like (x+y)^2. Since we know x and y is 1 and 4, we'd use PEMDAS, so terms within the parenthesis would be evaluated first. (1+4)^2->5^2->25. It's so much simpler this way also.

Terry Weiss - 5 years, 5 months ago

10²/4-9=16

Ahmed Samir - 5 years, 5 months ago

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10 is not given, cannot use it.

carslover08 . - 2 years, 10 months ago

And, what's 5^2 ?

Lol.

Sankalp Ranjan - 5 years, 5 months ago

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It means 5 to the exponent 2 Sankalp…they just don't have an exponent font dude.

Gerald Dixon John Cummings - 5 years, 5 months ago

You're an idiot!!

Gordon Bell - 5 years, 5 months ago

You have to do the bracket first. So what he did is correct.

Radvin Cruz - 5 years, 5 months ago
Aareyan Manzoor
Dec 17, 2015

nice one: 1 + Γ ( 4 ) + 9 = 16 \huge{1+\Gamma(4)+9=16} the gamma function is being used here.

What is the gamma function???

Grant Hollis - 2 years, 8 months ago

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The gamma function is the extension of the factorial function to real (and even complex) values. It relates to the factorial function as: Γ(n) = (n-1)! For more, see: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_function

Bruno Dias - 2 years, 8 months ago
Amogh Kamath
Dec 20, 2015

How about this: 1<<(4%9) where << is the left shift operator.

Sounds interesting but i don t get it ... could you please develop?

Thomas Coutelen - 5 years, 5 months ago

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Left shift is a binary operator x<<y means left shifting the binary representation of x to the left by y places.

Amogh Kamath - 5 years, 5 months ago

Oops! My bad! Your answer is right while I understood the notation wrong! Sorry about it! LoL! 😁👍

Preethi Krishnan - 5 years, 5 months ago

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4%9 gives 4 and then a left shift should give 40( as radix is 10)... hv i missed anything?

Aman Paturwar - 5 years, 5 months ago

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Left shift is a binary operator x<<y means left shifting the binary representation of x to the left by y places. So 1<<4 would be 10000 (base 2) = 16 (base 10). I guess the radix for binary operators is always 2.

Amogh Kamath - 5 years, 5 months ago

Haha cool! (Y)

Amogh Kamath - 5 years, 5 months ago

Hello, correct me if I am wrong, but this gives the answer as 8. ☺ You will have to left shift once more to get 16. Although I second this approach! 👍

Preethi Krishnan - 5 years, 5 months ago
Breno Lemos
Dec 20, 2015

1 + !4 - 9 = 16 is perfect, but if I'm also allowed to play with exponents, I would just do:

1 * 4^2 * 9^0 = 16

Isn't an exponent a function/operation?

Radvin Cruz - 5 years, 5 months ago
Mahmoud Ebrahim
Dec 20, 2015

(-1-4+9)^2

or if we're allowing ^2 then (1+4-9)^2

Jeff Capbell - 4 years ago

-1 -4 +9 = sqrt(16)

This is the solution that occurred to me. I think this app s better than versions that have "^2" in them, which surely introduce a "2". Having said that, this type of puzzle is not really wee-defined - exactly which "mathematical functions" are allowed?

Martin Ward - 4 years, 1 month ago
Jingqi Wei
Dec 20, 2015

I am curious what if 14/9=1.6 do you guys think it s allowed

Or 1 x 4 - 9 = 1 - 6

Jann jacob Rubico - 5 years, 5 months ago
Adarsh Mahor
Dec 15, 2015

The best solution is.
1+(4!-9)=16

The parentheses are not needed: (1+4!)-9 also gives 16, as does 1+4!-9

Ayush Premchand - 5 years, 5 months ago
Douglas Brown
Dec 24, 2015

4^(√9 - 1) = 4^2 = 16

Evan Chen
Dec 23, 2015

1+(4^2)-(9^0)

(1*(4%9))^2 = 16,

where % = modulo

Chiru Pudi
Dec 20, 2015

1+4!-9 = 16

-1+4^3/2+9

Asif Mujawar - 2 years, 8 months ago
Juana Sol
Dec 24, 2015

-1-(4^3-9^2)=16

Aimee Mallery
Dec 24, 2015

1^49 = 1^6

Luca del Olmo
Dec 24, 2015

(1+4)^2 -9

Yonathan Sheldon
Dec 23, 2015

1^2-(squar root of 4)×9

2-(2)×9

2-18=16

2-18=-16 not 16

Rutvik Katkoriya - 5 years, 5 months ago

1^2 is still 1, and even if it was 2, 2-18 is -16

Tyler Miller - 5 years, 5 months ago

I'm sorry but 1 squared is not 2, it is 1. So your equation is 1-2x9=-17

Robert Kopel - 5 years, 5 months ago
Daniel Vincent
Dec 25, 2015

We're allowed to use exponents, right?

(9-1) x 4^1/2=16

Ivy Reed
Dec 24, 2015

Boy I do the easy route 1 + 4 + 9 ( does not equal sign ) 16

Tyler Toole
Dec 24, 2015

149>16 Evaluates to true. I win.

Andrew Wang
Dec 24, 2015

$1 + 4 - 9 = -\sqrt{16}$

P.S. How d

Akshit Sanghavi
Dec 24, 2015

4{1+(9^0.5)}

David Cohen
Dec 24, 2015

4^([root 9] - 1)

( 9 + 1 ) × 4 = 16 (\sqrt{9} + 1) \times 4 = 16 , where 9 \sqrt{9} denotes the principal square root of 9

Hannah Kuhlow
Dec 23, 2015

(\sqrt{9} +1)4

Matt Church
Dec 23, 2015

1(-4+9)=-1+6

Athish Rahul Rao
Dec 23, 2015

((1+4) - 9)^2

Ossama Ismail
Dec 21, 2015

( 1 + 4 3 9 2 ) \huge -(1+ 4^3 - 9^2 )

Ab Zaman
Dec 21, 2015

1+(4)!-9=16

Venkatesh Kumar
Dec 20, 2015

-1 + cube(sqrt(4)) + 9

Mxjd Ultimate
Jun 5, 2021

1,4, and 9 are all square numbers. So, it is possible to make a 16 because it also a perfect square.

Brett Ozga
Dec 10, 2019

Is 1x4squaredx9 to the 0 power allowed?

Joseph McGrath
Jan 21, 2019

1 + 4^{2} - 9^{0}

Alexander Jung
Aug 27, 2018

f(x)=0 g(x)=16

f(1)+f(4)+g(9)=16

John Armstrong
Apr 24, 2018

1^0+4^2-9^0

It says any function: we define (for example) f(x)=x+2, thus: f(1+4+9)=16.

Leonel Morais
Jan 13, 2018

( 1 + 4 ) + 9 = 16 -(1+4)+9=\sqrt{16}

Let f ( x ) = 0 f(x) = 0 and g ( x ) = 16 g(x) = 16

f ( 1 ) + f ( 4 ) + g ( 9 ) = 16 f(1) + f(4) + g(9) = 16

Andrew Dowle
Oct 9, 2017

If any function can be used;

Define a function f(x) = 0

Then, f(1)+f(4)+f(9) = f(16)

Or

define g(x) = 14

1+4+9=g(16)

Kushal Dey
Oct 3, 2017

My solution was √(1 * 4 * 9)=1*6

Timothy K
Jun 18, 2017

(1+4^2) \ times 9^0

Jacob Byrley
Feb 9, 2017

1x(4^2)+(9^0)

Dusan Janic
Jan 17, 2016

(1+4)^2 - 9 =16

Aaron Calabrese
Dec 30, 2015

4! - (9-1) = 16

(1) (4^1/2)

Andre Lakhan
Dec 27, 2015

((1+4)^2)-9

Alex Cloud
Dec 27, 2015

1 + 4^2 - 9^0=16

1+16-1=16

16=16

Kostin Galu
Dec 27, 2015

1 + 4^{2} - 9^{0 }

Eduardo Raboni
Dec 27, 2015

1+4^2-9^0 = 1+16-1 = 16

Natasha Widmer
Dec 27, 2015

(1+4)^2 - 9

Rajat Agarwaal
Dec 26, 2015

Square of (4+1) - 9 =16

Sean Collard
Dec 26, 2015

1+(4^2)-(9^0)=16

Marikit Barrazona
Dec 26, 2015

-1 -4^3 + 9^2 = 16

Howell Webb
Dec 25, 2015

1+4sqr - 9 to the 0 power 1+ 16 -1 =16

Shreys Bothara
Dec 25, 2015

1square 2square 3square=4square thats my logic

John Gadient
Dec 24, 2015

(1) (4^2) (9^0)=16

Gabriel Debia
Dec 24, 2015

1 4 - 9 = -1 + 6

William Cummings
Dec 24, 2015

1 + 4^2 - 9^0

Pepe Peña
Dec 24, 2015

(1+4)^2 - 9 =9

Denny Wang
Dec 24, 2015

4!-(9-1) >> 24-8 = 16

Square root of 9=3 3+1x4

you need some brackets. Since in your way it's square root 9=3 3 + 1 x 4= 7 if you put brackets here it would work. (3 + 1) x 4 = 16 I get you tho

Liam Dello - 5 years, 5 months ago
Altaf Ahmed
Dec 24, 2015

Sol 1 4^(9^0.5 - 1) =4^(3-1) =4^2 =16

Sol 2 (1+4)^2 - 9 =5^2 - 9 =25 - 9 = 16

Sol 3 1+4! - 9 =1+24 - 9 = 25 - 9 =16

Poppy Evans
Dec 24, 2015

(1+4) squared - 9 = 16

Yous Sikai
Dec 23, 2015

1×(p[4]+9)=16 p[n] refers to nth prime.

Anas Ahsan
Dec 23, 2015

9 squared - 4 cube - 1 = 16

Brandon Keith
Dec 23, 2015

(1^0)×(4^2)×(9^0)

Mai Goud
Dec 23, 2015

4=2+2

((2 9)-2) 1=16

(18-2)*1=

16*1=16

Mozas My
Dec 23, 2015

(−1+(√4+√9))^(2)

Antonio Ferrao
Dec 23, 2015

1^0+4^2-9^0

Richard Gangale
Dec 23, 2015

(1)^2+(4)^2-(9)^0 = 16

Sean McCutcheon
Dec 23, 2015

-1-4^3+9^2

Austin Lively
Dec 23, 2015

9^2-sqrt(4)=16

Satyabrata Biswas
Dec 23, 2015

(-1-4+9)=_/16

Rinki Roy
Dec 23, 2015

(1+4)^2-9=16

Michael McVey
Dec 23, 2015

Same as Anish. 4!=24, so 1+24-9=16.

Amy Beaucham
Dec 23, 2015

1+4!-9=16 is the answer!!!

(1+√9)×4=16

Freya Braddon
Dec 23, 2015

(1+4)^2-9=16 ^2 is squared

A Turner
Dec 23, 2015

(Sqr rt 9 +1)*4

Gabriel Martins
Dec 23, 2015

1^0 X 4^4 X 9^0 1x16x1= 16

Sam Pandya
Dec 23, 2015

1 + 4! - 9

Anwesha Maharana
Dec 23, 2015

(1^2+4^2)-9^0=16

4! + 1 - 9 = 16 4! = (4)(3)(2)(1) = 24 + 1 = 25 - 9 = 16

Ajay Ajay
Dec 23, 2015

(1+4)^2-9=25-9=16

Israel Ea
Dec 21, 2015

(9-1)*sqrt{2}

Xavier Vera Nacif
Dec 21, 2015

1 + 4! - 9 = 16

I almost forgot about factorial numbers xD

Arulx Z
Dec 20, 2015
Note: this is not a solution

1 + 4 + 9 16 \huge{1+4+9\neq 16}

Hanna Hoj
Dec 20, 2015

(1+4!)-9=16 Please note that parentheses are used for better understanding of the problem.

Cuauhtemoc Chacon
Dec 20, 2015

(-1-4+9)^2 = 16

Panya Chunnanonda
Dec 20, 2015

( Sqr.(9)+1)* 4= 16

Raushan Sharma
Dec 20, 2015

1 + 4 2 9 0 1 + 4^{2} - 9^{0}

Kavyesh Talwar
Dec 20, 2015

(1+4)^2-9 =5^2-9 =25-9=16

Sadasiva Panicker
Dec 20, 2015

(1 + 4!) - 9 = 16 or (1 + 4)^2 - 9 = 16

Tanmay Sharma
Dec 20, 2015

1+(4!-9)=16

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