How to get to 24

Gerard Talman

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Jun 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM6/15/98

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3! * 8 / 3 + 8 = 6 * 8 / 3 + 8 = 48 / 3 + 8 = 16 + 8 = 24

Gerard Talman

YY22 wrote:
>
> Would anyone know the solution to this math puzzle?
>
> Need to get to 24
>
> using only numbers 3 3 8 8 once each.
>
> I came to a solution but I'm told that is not the right way. So if
> there is more then a single solution please post them all.
>
> Thank you
>
> To respond by e-mail change "x" to y in address.

Matthew Daly

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Jun 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM6/15/98

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I'll never forget the time that Gerard Talman <tal...@xs4all.nl> said:

>> Would anyone know the solution to this math puzzle?
>>
>> Need to get to 24
>>
>> using only numbers 3 3 8 8 once each.
>>
>> I came to a solution but I'm told that is not the right way. So if
>> there is more then a single solution please post them all.
>

>3! * 8 / 3 + 8 = 6 * 8 / 3 + 8 = 48 / 3 + 8 = 16 + 8 = 24

Well, that's okay, but there is a way to do it without the factorial
symbol that might what the original puzzler had in mind.

24 = 8/(3-(8/3)) = 8/(1/3) = 8*3 = 24

If you'd like to throw a stumper back, ask how to get to 24 with 2 3's
and 2 7's with only addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Same basic concept, but much less intuitive. Asking that question
without the context of 24 = 8/(3-(8/3)) is extremely challenging.

-Matthew
--
Matthew Daly mwd...@pobox.com
My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I am right - Ashleigh Brilliant
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of my employer, of course.
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Daniel ROGER

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Jun 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM6/15/98

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(3! * 8)/(8 - 3!) = (6*8)/(8-6)=48/2=24

(8 - 3)! / (8 - 3) = 5! / 5 = 120/5=24

YY22 <x1...@rocketmail.com> a écrit dans l'article
<35865b1d...@news.pipeline.com>...

> Would anyone know the solution to this math puzzle?
>
> Need to get to 24
>
> using only numbers 3 3 8 8 once each.
>
> I came to a solution but I'm told that is not the right way. So if
> there is more then a single solution please post them all.
>

Nathaniel Silver

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Jun 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM6/15/98

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YY22 wrote in message <3587613b...@news.pipeline.com>...

>I am nor familiar with the rules to this kind of puzzle. Is it
>permissible to solve it like this:
>
>The square root of 3*3*8*8 =24

Absolutely.

>By the way what is a factorial symbol and what does it represent?

0! = 1
1! = 1
2! = 2
3! = 3*2*1 = 6
4! = 4*3*2*1 = 24
n! = n*(n-1)! for all integers n > 0

NS

Matthew Daly

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Jun 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM6/15/98

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I'll never forget the time that x1...@rocketmail.com (YY22) said:

[forming 24 from 3 3 8 8]

>I am nor familiar with the rules to this kind of puzzle. Is it
>permissible to solve it like this:
>
>The square root of 3*3*8*8 =24

In general, yes, that's just fine by most people's unstated definitions
for most problems of this sort. But if that's the answer that your friend
said wasn't good enough, then I presume that stricter rules were in place.
Since there is also an answer that just involves the four basic
mathematical operations and parentheses, I thought it more likely that it
would be an answer that would be more likely to be "correct".

-Matthew