Matchstick Problem - 3

Logic Level 3

The number 8549 shown in the picture above is formed by 22 matchsticks.

If you can shift exactly 2 matchsticks to another position, then what will be the $\color{#69047E} {\text{square}}$ of the $\color{#69047E} {\text {smallest}}$ integer you can make?

Details and Assumptions:

You can't break the matchsticks.
The digits formed by the matchsticks should be like the LED digits commonly used in calculators & LED watches. Here is an image you can follow:

Check out Matchstick Problem - 4 .

The answer is 9047624161.

1 solution

Md Omur Faruque
Aug 7, 2015

It was never mentioned in the problem that the number you make should be positive. So you can form $\boldsymbol {- 95119}$ as shown below,

And the square will be, $\boldsymbol {(-95119)^2=\color{#69047E} {\boxed{9047624161}}}$

You fooled us.
Lol. good question.

Akhil Bansal - 5 years, 10 months ago

Thanks. Please, reshare if you like it.

MD Omur Faruque - 5 years, 10 months ago

Don't worry i always $\color{#20A900}{share}$ $\color{#3D99F6}{good}$ $\color{#3D99F6}{problems}$ like this.

Akhil Bansal - 5 years, 10 months ago

@Akhil Bansal – this is such a troll but amazing question!

flobbbbby Chang - 5 years, 10 months ago

one of the best troll questions I have came across.!! hats off!!

monty g - 5 years, 10 months ago

such a troll lol

Joshua Pan - 5 years, 10 months ago

Nice question , you almost trolled me.But i kind of guessed it.Keep posting more questions in this series

Athiyaman Nallathambi - 5 years, 10 months ago

Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. I've just posted problem 4. You can find it here .

MD Omur Faruque - 5 years, 10 months ago

You got me !! , genius problem

Abdeslem Smahi - 5 years, 10 months ago

WORTH 1000 POINTS

Akash singh - 5 years, 10 months ago

I am really disappointed that it had been set to 10 points. I've discussed this matter with Calvin Sir and he told me that this kind of trolling problems are not allowed in Brilliant. Got to be careful when posting a problem next time.

MD Omur Faruque - 5 years, 10 months ago

I hate you. Lol. The LED stuff has to go though, The number 11 isn't represented by a one digit placeholder. Your answer breaks assumption #2. So technically, while clever, your answer is wrong.

For positive numbers, it is 2401. In case anyone else forgot about half the numbers that exist and followed the rules strictly.

Mike Sull - 5 years, 10 months ago

When did I say anything about placeholder, lol?

MD Omur Faruque - 5 years, 10 months ago

"The digits formed by the matchsticks should be like the LED digits commonly used in calculators & LED watches." In your answer, the digit "11" is used in a way that it is not used in calculators and LED watches. "11" would take up two "spots" by having a "1" next to another "1" They don't just use the outer sides of one LED "cell" to make an "11"

Mike Sull - 5 years, 10 months ago

@Mike Sull – Come on! You know what it meant. By the 'like' word it meant the shape not size.

By the way, 11 is not a digit. It's formed by two digits and they are like the LED digits mentioned in the question.

MD Omur Faruque - 5 years, 10 months ago

I disagree! I think the answer should be 2401, because we can make 49 form 8549 by shifting two sticks and making 0049. We can make 0049 by taking out the middle stick from 8 and shifting it to 5 and then taking horizontal stick from 5 and shifting it also to 5, thus making 0049. (0049)^2= 2401.

If you think I am wrong, then please correct me, I would really appreciate it.

Mahad Ali - 5 years, 10 months ago

-95119 is much smaller than 49 and it asked for integers and NOT NATURAL NUMBERS

Akash singh - 5 years, 10 months ago

Thanks, I misunderstood integer for square.

Mahad Ali - 5 years, 10 months ago

@Mahad Ali – no problem

Akash singh - 5 years, 10 months ago

Matchstick Problem - 3

The answer is 9047624161.

1 solution

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