24 from 8,8,3,3

How can I get the answer 24 by only using the numbers 8,8,3,3. You can use the main signs add, subtract multiply and divide.

The Solution . . .
We know of two solutions. 1) Supplied by "mathsyperson": 8/(3-(8/3)) = 8/(1/3) = 24 2) Supplied by "puzzler09", using factorials: ((8 x 3!)/3)+8 = ((8 x 3 x 2 x 1)/3)+8 = (48/3)+8 = (16)+8 = 24 3) Supplied by "Mark": {3!/(cube root of 8)}*8

5-digit Number
What 5-digit number has the following features: If we put the numeral 1 at the beginning, we get a number three times smaller than if we put the numeral 1 at the end of the number.

The Solution . . .
Using an easy equation: 3(100000 + x) = 10x+1 (Why? Well, adding 100000 puts a 1 at the front of a five-digit number, and multiplying by 10 and adding 1 puts a 1 at the end of a number) Solving this gives: 10x+1 = 3(100000 + x) 10x+1 = 300000 + 3x 10x = 299999 + 3x 7x = 299999 x= 299999/7 = 42857 The answer is 42857.

Birthday

When asked about his birthday, a man said: "The day before yesterday I was only 25 and next year I will turn 28." This is true only one day in a year - when was he born?

The Solution . . .
He was born on December 31st and spoke about it on January 1st.

Choose the Right Symbol

What mathematical symbol can be put between 5 and 9, to get a number bigger than 5 and smaller than 9?

The Solution . . .
A Decimal Point 5.9 works nicely

Four Fours

A popular mathematical passtime: Use exactly four 4's to form every integer from 0 to 50, using only the operators +, -, x, /, () (brackets) x2 (square), and ! (factorial). Example: 0 = 44-44

The Solution . . .
0 = 44-44 1 = 44/44 or (4+4)/(4+4) or (4/4) / (4/4) 2 = 4/4+4/4 3 = (4+4+4)/4 4 = 4*(4-4)+4 5 = (4*4+4)/4 6 = 4*.4+4.4 7 = 44/4-4 8 = 4+4.4-.4 9 = 4/4+4+4 10 = 44/4.4 11 = 4/.4+4/4 12 = (44+4)/4 13 = 4!-44/4 14 = 4*(4-.4)-.4 15 = 44/4+4 16 = .4*(44-4) 17 = 4/4+4*4 18 = 44*.4+.4 19 = 4!-4-4/4 20 = 4*(4/4+4) 21 = (4.4+4)/.4 22 = 44*sqrt(4)/4 23 = (4*4!-4)/4 24 = 4*4+4+4 25 = (4*4!+4)/4 26 = 4/.4+4*4 27 = 4-4/4+4! 28 = 44-4*4 29 = 4/.4/.4+4 30 = (4+4+4)/.4 31 = (4!+4)/4+4! 32 = 4*4+4*4

33 = (4-.4)/.4+4! 34 = 44-4/.4 35 = 44/4+4! 36 = 44-4-4 37 = (sqrt(4)+4!)/sqrt(4)+4! 38 = 44-4!/4 39 = (4*4-.4)/.4 40 = 44-sqrt(4*4) 41 = (sqrt(4)+4!)/.4-4! 42 = sqrt(4)+44-4 43 = 44-4/4 44 = 44.4-.4 45 = 4/4+44 46 = 44-sqrt(4)+4 47 = 4!+4!-4/4 48 = 4*(4+4+4) 49 = (4!-4.4)/.4 50 = 4!/4+44 (Note: people have managed to do this for 1000s of numbers!)

Four-Digit Whole Number

There is one four-digit whole number n, such that the last four digits of n2 are in fact the original number n.

The Solution . . .
Looking at the last digit, the last digit must be either 0, 1, 5 or 6. Then looking at the last two digits, the last two digits must be either 00, 01, 25 or 76. Then looking at the last three digits, the last three digits must be either 000, 001, 625 or 376. Then looking at the last four digits, the last four digits must be either 0000, 0001, 0625 or 9376. Out of those, only 9376 is a 4 digit number.

Fraction

Can you arrange the numerals 1 to 9 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) in a single fraction that equals exactly 1/3 (one third)? Example that doesn't work: 7192/38456 = 0.187

The Solution . . .
5832/17496 = 1/3

Make the Number 100

Using the numerals 1,7,7,7 and 7 (a "1" and four "7"s) create the number 100. As well as the five numerals you can use the usual mathematical operations +, -, x, and brackets (). For example: (7+1) (7+7) = 112 would be a good attempt, but not right, because it is not 100.

The Solution . . .
We know of two solutions: a) 177-77 = 100 b) (7+7) (7+(1 7)) = 100

One and a Half Hens

If one and a half hens lay one and a half eggs in one and a half days, how many eggs does one hen lay in one day?

The Solution . . .
Find the daily rate per hen: Hens Days (Daily Rate) = Eggs 1 1 (Daily Rate) = 1 (Daily Rate) = 1 / (1 1 ) Daily Rate = 1/(1 ) = 2/3 So 1 hen in 1 day will lay two-thirds of an egg

Sum Of Digits is 43

I am thinking of a 6-digit number. The sum of the digits is 43. And only two of the following three statements about the number are true: (1) it's a square number, (2) it's a cube number, and (3) the number is under 500000.

The Solution . . .
Only Statements 1 and 3 are true. the number is 499849. 7072 = 499849 499849<500000

Tricky Equation

The following equation is wrong: 101 - 102 = 1 Move one numeral to make it correct. (Caution: Trick)

The Solution . . .
Move the numeral 2 half a line up to achieve 101-102 = 1

Two Consecutive Numbers

A Teacher thinks of two consecutive numbers in the range 1 to 10, and tells Alex one of the numbers and Sam the other. Sam and Alex have the following conversation: Alex: I don't know your number. Sam: I don't know your number, either.

Alex: Now I know! Can you find all 4 solutions?

The Solution . . .
If Sam or Alex had 1 or 10, then they would have solved it straight away. But neither did. But when Alex discovered that Sam didn't know, he went from not knowing to knowing. So Alex must have had a number where Sam's answer was crucial. If Alex had 2, then Sam could have 1 or 3 - and the crucial answer "I don't know your number, either" would have ruled out 1, leaving 3 as the other number (Solution: 2 and 3) Now, if Alex had 3, then he would expect Sam to have either 2 or 4. But if Sam had 2, Sam could have guessed the answer already (because Alex had already said he didn't know, so could not have had 1). When Alex discovers that Sam also doesn't know, he can rule out 2 as the answer. (Solution: 3 and 4). Exactly the same arguments work at the other end of the range, providing the other two solutions: (Solution: 9 and 8) and (Solution: 8 and 7)

Where Did the Dollar Come From ?

Two friends have a nice meal together, and the bill is $25 The friends pay $15 each, which the Waiter gives to the Cashier The Cashier hands back $5 to the Waiter The Waiter keeps $3 as a tip and hands back $1 each So, the friends paid $14 each for the meal, for a total of $28. The Waiter has $3, and that makes $31. Where did the other dollar come from?

The Solution . . .
$25 is sitting with the Cashier, $2 with the friends, and $3 with the Waiter. That adds to the required $30. The mistake is expecting that what the men paid and what the Waiter kept to add up to what the men initially gave. In fact, it is the amount that the meal effectively cost them, plus the amount they received back, that should add to $30.

Where Did the Dollar Go ?

Three friends have a nice meal together, and the bill is $25 The three friends pay $10 each, which the waiter gives to the Cashier The Cashier hands back $5 to the Waiter But the Waiter can't split $5 three ways, so he gives the friends one dollar each and keeps 2 dollars as a tip. They all paid $10 and got $1 back. $10-$1 = $9 There were three of them 3 X $9 = $27 If they paid $27 and the waiter kept $2: $27+$2=$29 Where did the other dollar go? $30 - $1 = $29

The Solution . . .
It is all in how the question is asked. When the friends paid $10 dollars, they had paid $30 in total. When the Cashier gave $5 dollars to the Waiter, the 3 friends had paid $25 to the Cashier and $5 to the Waiter. When the Waiter returns 3 dollars, the 3 friends had paid $25 to the Cashier and $2 to the Waiter. $25+$2 = $27 = 3 x $9.