The 24 game - Part 2

Logic Level 1

Can you form 24 using all the numbers 3, 3, 9, and 11, along with any of the 4 arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) and parentheses?

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83 solutions

( 9 ÷ 3 ) × ( 11 3 ) = 3 × 8 = 24 \large (9 \div 3) \times (11 - 3) = 3 \times 8 = 24 .

Moderator note:

This is traditionally the Game of 24, with numbers ranging from 1 to 13 inclusive. If you pick 4 integers from 1 to 13 at random to set up a puzzle, the probability is approximately 75% that there will be a solution. Source .

Going by the "24 game" rules, you would do:

11 3 = 8 8 × 9 = 72 72 ÷ 3 = 24 \begin{aligned} 11-3 &= 8 \\ \Rightarrow 8 \times 9 &= 72 \\ \Rightarrow 72 \div 3 &= 24 \end{aligned}

Andy Hayes - 3 years, 7 months ago

I maintain that my ‘no’ answer was correct for me. Before seeing a solution, I could NOT solve the puzzle.

Bob Dobbin - 3 years, 7 months ago

Nice source link. I wonder what if the % of solutions that do not contain 1 are higher or lower than 75%. Surely combinations without 2 or without 3 must be lower than 75%. I may have to try to get this into Excel or something to play around with it.

Jonathan Levell - 3 years, 7 months ago

That's much nicer than the solution I had. I thought this would be much harder than my previous one, but turns out to be the same.

Chung Kevin - 3 years, 7 months ago

Nice solution. ¨ \ddot \smile

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 7 months ago

How would you have known to do that?

timothy gilstrap - 3 years, 7 months ago

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I missed it because I was just focusing on addition, subtraction, and multiplication, forgetting multiplication. Once I saw the solution, I realized that division could remove the extra factor of 3.

Kermit Rose - 3 years ago

In the ordering of solutions shown, there is a tendency for the first one shown to be upvoted, and the remaining to not be looked at. This suggests that the solutions should be shown in reverse order so that the least upvoted be shown first.

Kermit Rose - 3 years ago

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Good point. It would probably be even more fair if the answers were posted in random order, but I will give Brilliant staff the benefit of the doubt and assume that they have considered all the ordering options and went with what they felt was the most "workable" option.

Brian Charlesworth - 3 years ago

The problem should have stated "using all those numbers once and no other numbers."

Linda Slovik - 2 years, 4 months ago

That's pretty great, but I've got a better one: TREE(9) / TREE(3) ^11↑↑↑↑↑↑↑3 = 24

Ben Cope - 3 years, 7 months ago

Nice! But brackets wasn't mentioned in the question. And hence, proceeding by BODMAS, this fails.

Nitheesh A S - 3 years, 7 months ago

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But brackets wasn't mentioned in the question

No it was mentioned. ''Parentheses'' means ( ) ( ~ )

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 7 months ago
Zain Majumder
Oct 22, 2017

( 11 ( 9 / 3 ) ) × 3 = 8 × 3 = 24 (11-(9/3))\times 3 = 8 \times 3 = 24 .

That's the one I was thinking of :)

Chung Kevin - 3 years, 7 months ago

(11χ9)-9-(3χ11)-(3χ11)=24

Lazaros Markopoulos - 3 years, 7 months ago

But we can use each number only once, right?

Pratik Bachhav - 3 years, 7 months ago

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The numbers are 3,3,9,11

Jason Brown - 3 years, 7 months ago

In this solution they HAVE only been used once each.

Julia Stöckigt - 3 years, 7 months ago
Tom Schmidt
Oct 23, 2017

[(11-9)^3] x3

No powers/exponents

alex wang - 3 years, 7 months ago

Exponents weren't allowed, but I don't think we should crush outside-the-box thinking. Brilliant solution! Keep bending the rules, it's the best way to nurture your creativity!

L Jones - 3 years, 7 months ago

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Agreed! Sometimes not following the rules leads to novel solutions. To me this seems to be the hallmark of mathematical exploration throughout history.

Jason Cheek - 3 years, 7 months ago

But it’s the most creative solution

Dave Moreau - 3 years, 7 months ago

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It's not a solution to the problem specified. If someone asks you how to light a fire using nothing but two pieces of wood, and you tell them to simply use a lighter, have you really solved anything?

Oskar Smedman - 3 years, 7 months ago

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But it's wrong per the instructions

Dennis Koehler - 3 years, 7 months ago

My solution also...though it doesn't exactly stick to only the four arithmetic signs, since there is an exponent involved.

Edith Rudy - 3 years, 7 months ago

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THE SOLUTION REQUIRES AN EXPONENT WITH IS NOT SPECIFICALLY ALLOWED.

Ira Gregerman - 3 years, 7 months ago

You've gone beyond arithmetic

Dennis Koehler - 3 years, 7 months ago

It is true that exponents were not specified as permitted. However, this solution did impress me.

Kermit Rose - 3 years ago

Exponents aren't allowed.

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 7 months ago

No indices

Parth Bisen - 3 years, 7 months ago
Chloé Humbert
Oct 23, 2017

((11-3) x 9) ÷ 3 = (8 x 9) ÷ 3 = 72 ÷ 3 = 24

That's my solution also! Making an extra 3 out of 11 and 9 was too straightforward to see with a naked eye, haha!

Dima Buchka - 3 years, 7 months ago
Tegan Bartlett
Oct 22, 2017

3 x 9 = 27
27 - 3 = 24
24 + 1 - 1 = 24
Only kidding :) . the real method :


( 9/3 ) x ( 11 - 3) = 3 x 8 = 24

interesting

Haroon Usman - 3 years, 7 months ago

  • 11 - 11, you meant Tegan. Also x11/11.

Hernan Visani - 3 years, 7 months ago

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Um what? no I don't think so

Tegan Bartlett - 3 years, 7 months ago
Victor Gumenyuk
Oct 23, 2017

Since 72 / 3 = 24, we need to use the remaining 3 numbers, 3,9,11, to arrive at 72. Thus, 11 - 3 = 8, & 9 * 8 = 72.

((11 - 3) * 9) / 3 = 24

why not do it the easy way? (9 + 11 + 3 + 3) - (11 - 9) = 24

roswitha McIntosh - 3 years, 7 months ago
Harsh Dev
Oct 23, 2017

(9/3)(11-3)

Excellent. Simple and, in the spirit of the problem, uses each number only once.

Wm Schwartz - 3 years, 7 months ago

(39÷3)+11=24

Wajahat Hassan
Oct 28, 2017

11 * 3 + 3 - 9

Janelle Florez
Oct 28, 2017

(11-3)*9 = 72 ; 72/3 = 24

Bablu Kumar
Oct 27, 2017
  • 3 ( 11 ( 9 / 3 ) ) 3*(11-(9/3))
  • ( 9 / 3 ) ( 11 3 ) (9/3)*(11-3)
  • ( 11 3 ) / ( 3 / 9 ) (11-3)/(3/9)
  • ( ( 11 3 ) 9 ) / 3 ((11-3)*9)/3
  • ( 11 3 ) ( 9 / 3 ) (11-3)*(9/3)
  • ( ( 11 3 ) / 3 ) 9 ((11-3)/3)*9
  • ( 9 ( 11 3 ) ) / 3 (9*(11-3))/3
  • 9 / ( 3 / ( 11 3 ) ) 9/(3/(11-3))
  • 9 ( ( 11 3 ) / 3 9*((11-3)/3
  • ( 11 ( 9 / 3 ) ) 3 (11-(9/3))*3

(11-3)(9)=72, so, (72÷3)=24

Pablo Garin
Oct 25, 2017

(11-3)×(9÷3)

Hans Windhoff
Oct 25, 2017

(3*11) - ( 9 /(3/3)) =

Too many 3's

John Mars - 3 years, 7 months ago
A Kh
Oct 23, 2017

(11 - (9/3) ) * 3

Marjo Rey Janer
Oct 23, 2017

9 x 3 - 3 = 24

The question asked us to use ALLof the numbers.

Steve Edwards - 3 years, 7 months ago

Where is 11?

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 7 months ago
Dan P
Oct 29, 2017

The problem should mention that you use each number only once.

You can work out the problem methodically without depending on hit and trial by the following thought process: keep one of the numbers aside , let it be 3 . The following operations can be performed with the number 3 in order to get the result as 24 -> 1. 21+3 2. 27-3. 3. 8x3 4. 72/3 . By checking each option it is observed that only 3. And 4. Are feasible . You can get the 4th option by: ((11-3)x9)/3 . The 3rd option is obtained by: (9/3)x(11-3)

Austin Gutierrez
Oct 29, 2017

9(11-3) / 3 = 24

Curtis Miller
Oct 29, 2017

(11+3+3+9)-((11+3)-(3+9))

((11 - 3) x 9) / 3 = 24

Daniel Crooks
Oct 29, 2017

(3x11) -9 =24

Kaden Slater
Oct 28, 2017

11 - 9 = 2

3 + -3 = 0

11(11 - 9) = 22

11(11 - 9) + 11 - 9 + 3 + -3 = 24

Here is way to do it but I don't know of a general test for it besides showing an example.

Andrew Reynolds
Oct 27, 2017

(11-3) x (9/3) = 24

John Cruiser
Oct 27, 2017

(9÷3)×(11 ---3)=24

Suresh Ramarao
Oct 27, 2017

(11-3) x 9 /3 = 24

Seif-Eldeen Hasan
Oct 27, 2017

(11-3) * 9 / 3 = 24

Catalin Padurean
Oct 27, 2017

3*11 -9 =33-9=24

Md Mehedi Hasan
Oct 27, 2017

( 11 3 ) × 9 3 = 24 (11-3)\times \frac { 9 }{ 3 } =24

Matthew Choi
Oct 26, 2017

24 = [(11 - 3) * 3]

Morgan Smith
Oct 26, 2017

9(11-3)/3=24

Austin Alvarez
Oct 26, 2017

[(11-3)x9]/3

Cheah Wei
Oct 26, 2017

(11-3)*(9/3)=24

Cal Kruse
Oct 26, 2017

While not to the rules ... (11-9)^3 x 3 😊

Samir El Aker
Oct 26, 2017

(11x3)-9-3

Ivan Blagojević
Oct 26, 2017

(11-3)x9/3=8x9/3=72/3=24

Jim Johnson
Oct 26, 2017

LaTeX: 1 1 3 × ( 9 3 ) = 4 × 6 = 24 11_{3} \times (9 - 3) = 4 \times 6 = 24

Naraic Baidley
Oct 26, 2017

(3*11)-9=24

(11-3)*(9/3) = 24

Neeraj Adsul
Oct 26, 2017

9*(11-3)/3

Stephan Kern
Oct 26, 2017

((11-3) x 9)) / 3 = (8 x 9) / 3 = 72 / 3= 24

Matias Ferreyra
Oct 26, 2017

(11-3) x 9 / 3 = 24

Brenna Laudlaw
Oct 25, 2017

11+9+3+3= 24

Looking at the others, my solution is complicated, but not nearly as complicated as some things on this site. (11-3)/3 9=24 11-3=8 8/3= 8 3 \frac{8}{3} 8 3 \frac{8}{3} 9= 72 3 \frac{72}{3} 72 3 \frac{72}{3} =72/3=24

(11-3)/39=24 <------- This is an incorrect statement. It does mean what you think it does. It is actually meaningless. Fix it with this: ((11-3)/3)9=24

Linda Slovik - 2 years, 4 months ago
Wm Schwartz
Oct 25, 2017

((11-9)+3+3)•3

There are too many 3s.

Linda Slovik - 2 years, 4 months ago
Howard Walfish
Oct 25, 2017

[11-3] x [9÷3]

Neil Kelly
Oct 25, 2017

(11-3) x (9/3) = 24

Soumil Baksi
Oct 25, 2017

(39÷3)+11=24

Some Guy
Oct 25, 2017

( 9/3) X ( 11-3) 3X8=24 24=24

Leo Quirino
Oct 25, 2017

(11-3) x (9:3) = 8 x 3 = 24

Anisah M
Oct 25, 2017

3 x 3 = 33, 33 - 9 =24

Jayson Royal
Oct 25, 2017

9-3=6. 6+11=27. 27-3=24

6+11=17 not 27

Brenna Laudlaw - 3 years, 7 months ago
Anshu Yadav
Oct 25, 2017

(11-3) X (9/3) = 8 X 3 = 24

Lorella D'Cruz
Oct 25, 2017

9/3 x (11-3) = 24

Marco Sison
Oct 25, 2017

[(11 - 3) × 9]÷3

S. Reza Musawi
Oct 25, 2017

39 3 \frac{39}{3} +11

Steve Locke
Oct 24, 2017

((11 X 3)+(9 x 3)+ (9 + 3))/ 3=(33 + 27 + 12)/3=72/3=24

David McCarthy
Oct 24, 2017

(11-3) * 9/3

Victor Yu
Oct 24, 2017

(11 x 3) - 9 = 24

(11 - 3) X ( 9 3 \frac{9}{3} ) = 8 X 3 = 24

Hassan Taqvi
Oct 24, 2017

(11-3)*9/3

Juan Listo
Oct 24, 2017

(9x3)-3+11-11=24

Cade LaTurner
Oct 24, 2017

[(11-3)9]/3

Guiseppi Butel
Oct 24, 2017

11+9+3+3-(11-9)

Ed Rozmiarek
Oct 24, 2017

(11-3)(9/3)=8 x 3=24

Taieb Jerbi
Oct 24, 2017

(11-3)x(9÷3)= 8x3=24

Arjun Vijay
Oct 24, 2017

(11-3)×(9÷1/3)

Jade Gabuya
Oct 24, 2017

{[(11-3)×9]÷3}

11+9+4+3-3

You cannot use 4.

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 7 months ago
Harshal Bihade
Oct 24, 2017

(11*3)-9=24

Django Tango
Oct 24, 2017

(9×3-4)×11/11

You cannot use 4.

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 7 months ago
Atharva Pakade
Oct 24, 2017

(9/3)(11-3)=24

Mahir Ratanpara
Oct 24, 2017

(11-3)·(9/3)=24

Krati Mathur
Oct 23, 2017

11-3=8. 8*9=72. 72/3= 24

Shruti Gawade
Oct 23, 2017

(11*(3/3))-9

Wrong. ( 11 × ( 3 ÷ 3 ) ) 9 (11 \times (3 \div3)) - 9 is equal to 2 not 24.

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 7 months ago
Gavin Drumm
Oct 23, 2017

(3/3)(4) = 4+9+11 = 24

Steve Edwards
Oct 23, 2017

9 / ( 3 / (11 - 3 ) ) = 9 / ( 3 / 8) = 24

David Adams
Oct 23, 2017

It says can you form 24 using the four numbers and using any of the four operands and parentheses, of which I found two methods at deriving twenty-four: (11-3)(9÷3)=24, or 9(11-3)/3=24

Squadface Gaming
Oct 23, 2017

If you don't have to use all 4 you can just do this: 11 x 3 - 9 = 24

If not: [(11 - 9) ^ 3] x 3

Exponents aren't allowed.

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 7 months ago
Matthew Moy
Oct 23, 2017

9 3 \frac{9}{3} equals 3

11 minus 3 equals 8

8 times 3 equals 24

Scorpios Aalfa
Oct 23, 2017

Going by the prime factorization of 24.

24 = 2x2x2x3 i.e. 2^3 x 3.

24 = (11-9)(11-9)(11-9) x 3 or

24 = (11-9)^3 x 3.

Exponents are not allowed.

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 7 months ago
Michael Robert
Oct 22, 2017

(11-3)9/3=24

Joel Huttunen
Oct 22, 2017

24=8x3 and 11-3 = 8, so (11-3)x(9/3) = 24

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