MtnDewCodeRedFreak Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 You know how things go unsolved from time to time and never gets solved? In this case, here's a math problem as old as my freshman year of HS (1998-1999!) that never got solved at all. I tried and tried to solve it to no luck. Here goes: In this flashcard game, there's a set of 4 numbers that you can use addition, subtraction, multiplication and/or division (or you can repeat any of those operators) that MUST equal to 24. I have successfully made through all of the cards except one. That one is the one that got stuck on my mind ever since. And, to add insult to injury, you can't group any set of those 4 into 2 or 3 via parentheses - you must put them into a single line. Here are the 4 numbers: 1 5 5 9 I tried that grouping thing (like 1 + 5 then 9 - 5 then multiplying the sum and difference together) and my teacher said "No, you can't do that" - I was like damn it, lol. Can anyone help solve this for me so I can get this thing to rest?! Lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdrew Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 You sure that 9 wasn't an upside-down 6 flashcard? Because 6 x 5 - 5 - 1 = 24. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnDewCodeRedFreak Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 drdrew, yes I'm sure it was a 9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdrew Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 According to this site: http://gottfriedville.net/games/24/index.shtml, your teacher was wrong and (1+5) Jim K 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted May 24, 2015 Global Moderator Share Posted May 24, 2015 You know how things go unsolved from time to time and never gets solved? In this case, here's a math problem as old as my freshman year of HS (1998-1999!) that never got solved at all. I tried and tried to solve it to no luck. Here goes: In this flashcard game, there's a set of 4 numbers that you can use addition, subtraction, multiplication and/or division (or you can repeat any of those operators) that MUST equal to 24. I have successfully made through all of the cards except one. That one is the one that got stuck on my mind ever since. And, to add insult to injury, you can't group any set of those 4 into 2 or 3 via parentheses - you must put them into a single line. Here are the 4 numbers: 1 5 5 9 I tried that grouping thing (like 1 + 5 then 9 - 5 then multiplying the sum and difference together) and my teacher said "No, you can't do that" - I was like damn it, lol. Can anyone help solve this for me so I can get this thing to rest?! Lol. There isn't a way, other than to use operations (9-5)*(5+1) = 24 /ninja'd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neufuse Veteran Posted May 24, 2015 Veteran Share Posted May 24, 2015 Ah the 24 game, we use to play that in elementary school...... don't think we ever played it past 7th grade if I remember correct, you can group in 24, as long as you got the answer did the cards look like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnDewCodeRedFreak Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 Ah the 24 game, we use to play that in elementary school...... don't think we ever played it past 7th grade if I remember correct, you can group in 24, as long as you got the answer did the cards look like this? YES that one! Except the colors were plain black and white. According to this site: http://gottfriedville.net/games/24/index.shtml, your teacher was wrong and (1+5) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zman982 Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 YES that one! Except the colors were plain black and white. Oh wow. Damn you, Mrs. Susan Hocker (my Algebra 1 teacher). Thank you! I KNEW I was right the first time! She was probably mad you figured it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnDewCodeRedFreak Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 She was probably mad you figured it out. LOL! Probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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