Monday Madness

I don't like your "sneaky" answer as I feel that an equivalency is not quite the same as an equality because it is really dealing with defining identities… rather than equality which calls for a solution. Yet, Except for mathematicians, I can see where "equation" is used in that situation.

Yes, my second answer was definitely not (strictly) mathematically correct, that's why I considered it to be a bit sneaky.

could always do it this way if that wasn't the answer you wanted tomk. IX + I = X again just moving 1 match.

Another good "move one match" answer Terry.

Can anybody do better than terry1966 or Achamian?

Hey everybody! Just logged in, darn just when theres one up my alley lol. (maths problem). Well done Achamian and Terry! The only other thing I can come up with is if you read the matches backwards it is a true equation without having to move any matches. XI = I+X or (11=1+10) in Roman numerals. Chrissy

And there we have it. Well done chrissy72!

Move no matches… just walk around the table and you will see:
[external image: Posted Image]

Eleven does in fact equal one plus 10.

But WAIT !!

You don't even have to move around the table !!
Just rearrange the matches in your MIND to read this:

X (2 matches crossing) + | (1 match vertically) = | X (3 matches - 1 vertical and 2 crossing)

i.e. Count actual matches in front of & after the "+" sign (3) = actual # of matches after equal sign (3).

How'd I do?

I think I see ur thinking there Elizabeth. We can actually turn that into another roman numeral equation. II + I = III or 2 + 1 = 3 by not actually moving any matches around, just "tweeking" them so as the X's become II.

Very clever chrissy72 There are sure a lot of ways to look at 10 match sticks. Great puzzle Tomk.

nice one chrissy.

Thx guys

Awesome Chrissy!

But what I was really trying to show is that you don't even have to tweek them. Just leave as is. Remember the kinds of equations you learned in kindergarden where they used pictures of apples?

First, I will use smiley faces as an example.


[ ] + [ ] = [ ]
2 smileys + 1 smiley = 3 smileys


Take Chrissey's example and in your mind change the "roman numerals" to "matches"

| | + | = | | |


2 matches + 1 match = 3 matches

Now here's the part I always thought was so cool as a kid:

If the groups of smileys all stay in the same area, without leaping over the "gate" (my former teacher's name for "= ") you can arrange the smileys any way you like and your math "sentence" (former teacher's name for "equation") will still be TRUE !!!

Example:

…………………………………………,,,…[ ]
[ ]………+………[ ]……….=…….[ ]…………. JUST AS……..[ X ]…….+…….[ | ]….=….[| X ]
[ ]……………………………………….. [ ]

2 smileys + 1 smiley = 3 smileys 2 matches + 1 match = 3 matches

Imagine the 3 sets of matches between the "plus" and "equal" signs as each representing the end result of a game of "Pick-up Sticks" where

X = two pick up sticks (2 forming an X)

| = one Pick-Up Stick (1 verically positioned)

|X = 3 Pick-Up Sticks (1 laying vertically and 2 forming an X)


+ = the function sign for addition (2 Pick-Up Sticks forming the sign for addition - a cross)

= = the function sign for equality (2 Pick-Up Sticks layed horizontally and paralell)


So, you don't have to move the matches in the picture: just change the picture in your mind to read:

A pile of 2 matches plus 1 single match alone equals 3 matches.
2 + 1 = 3

There… now can I have a cookie?

Your smileys didn't have to leap over the gate Elizabeth. Just another way to view the matches, right? If I were giving out the cookies, you could certainly have one

All participants can have a cookie…

[external image: Posted Image]

Cookie Monster! I love it!

And there we have it. Well done chrissy72!

Move no matches… just walk around the table and you will see:
[external image: Posted Image]

Eleven does in fact equal one plus 10.

Tricky one Tomk,

The problem as presented was only 2 dimensional. I looked at the back of my computer screen and no, I could not see it

Where is that "table" we can "walk around" to see the solution?