Game of numbers

To play this numbers game, take any 4 of the ten digits 0~9 (not necessarily distinct) and form a valid equation with the 4 numbers. Valid operations are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponents, any grouping symbols, and square roots. Concatenation is not allowed. For example, the four numbers ( 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 ) (2, 5, 7, 9) could be chosen to form the equation 7 × 2 = 9 + 5. 7\times 2=9+5. It is possible to play this game successfully for all combinations except for two.

Find these two exceptions and enter your answer as these two combinations in descending order—i.e. descending within each 4-digit number and then between the two 4-digit numbers. For example, if you think that the two exceptions are combinations ( 2 , 4 , 7 , 8 ) (2, 4, 7, 8) and ( 0 , 3 , 4 , 9 ) , (0, 3, 4, 9), first form each 4-digit number 8742 8742 and 9430 , 9430, and then enter 94308742. 94308742.

Feel free to solve this problem with programming.


The answer is 97507530.

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1 solution

Joshua Lowrance
Apr 6, 2018

I used process of elimination. It took a while though...

However, I still can't find an equation for either (0,2,5,8) or (0,3,6,8). Does anyone else have an equation for these?

5 8 0 = 2 , 8 + 6 0 = 3 \sqrt{5-8^0}=2 , \sqrt{8+6^0}=3 The combination (2,6,6,7) and similar ones took me the longest to figure out.

John Ross - 3 years, 2 months ago

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Ah, that's smart. Thank you!

Joshua Lowrance - 3 years, 2 months ago

I figured out that you could it if you have two of the same number and a power of two. For instance, 6^2^7 with seven square roots equals 6. Did you get a different answer for that one?

Joshua Lowrance - 3 years, 2 months ago

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That is the same answer that I got, it just took me a while.

John Ross - 3 years, 2 months ago

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