Matchstick Problem - 4
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 of the positive integers you can make?
As an explicit example, suppose you can make 1000, 2000 & 3000, then the answer will be
Details and Assumptions:
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All kinds of trick out of mathematics such as breaking or burning the matchsticks are not allowed.
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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:
Warning: This question is kind of troll. Read the rules carefully and think twice before you answer.
The answer is 1.
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1 solution
OK, here we go again.
As per the rules of this question, we can apply any kind of mathematical tricks to get our answer. So we, simply form a 1 with two matchsticks and use the other number formed by matchsticks as the exponent of 1. There are a variety of possible exponents we can make like 3 5 4 9 , 5 5 4 9 , 2 5 4 9 , 9 5 4 3 , 6 5 4 3 & some more. But whatever we make the answer will always be same: 1. Here is a picture of how I did it:
So the answer is ( 1 3 5 4 9 ) 2 = 1 .