Math Riddle

[kangaroo]

Posted: 3/4/05 at 9:00pm

7
16
20
6

Make the four numbers = 24
You can add, subtract, divide, or multiply... but you can only use these four numbers once.

Good luck... kangaroo

Updated On: 3/4/05 at 09:00 PM

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:34pm

closest i can get so far, and i think my first step is cheating:

5 (first step, but also the number of equation components, so literally "these numbers" restated) times 7 is 35;

35 times 16 is 570;

570 plus 6 is 576;

square root of 576 is 24.

Updated On: 3/5/05 at 12:34 PM

[kangaroo]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:41pm

sorry to bum you out... but you did cheat a tad on your first step... you can only use numbers there... not just start off with the number 5. You start off with 2 of the numbers in the problem, then work your way up

and you can't take the square root of something

Nice try though... thanks
Kangaroo

Updated On: 3/5/05 at 12:41 PM

[musicalmjk]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:46pm

(20*16)/(7+6)= 320/13= 24.615 thats the closest ive gotten

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:48pm

i figured it was cheating. But i thought i'd post it and see if those relations of the numbers would help someone else see the solution. It's amazing how similar equations can be with a remix of the same components.

[kangaroo]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:49pm

lol, I've gotten that number before too

The thing is, it is a game that little kids play, so it wouldn't be a decimal number...

No one could figure out this problem at my school, so I thought I would bring it here...

[musicalmjk]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:57pm

The game 24? where everything equals 24. I remember playing that when I was in the fourth grade.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 1:03pm

7 X (16 + 20) = 252 divided by 6 = 42, invert the integers and get 24 (just kidding, but again the relation might help others see the solution)

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 1:26pm

Ugh. I have so much math in school, and now it's here?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 1:44pm

ahhhh, this is making my head spin. If I get really bored later, though, I might try it.

[Mythus]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 2:06pm

All I could find was 20 + 16 - 7 - 6 = 23. Close enough, right?

[etheb]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 2:53pm

but you can only use these four numbers once

do we HAVE to use each EXACTLY once? or a maximum of one time? because if it's the latter:

(20-16)*6=24. 7 isn't used.

if it's the former, i have to keep working :-p Updated On: 3/5/05 at 02:53 PM

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 3:26pm

I can tell you that 4 factorial equals 24... but I highly doubt little kids are dealing with factorials, permutations and combinations.

But I'll give my crack at it

I'll be back in a bit

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 5:15pm

I think etheb got it.

[kangaroo]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 8:35pm

sorry you have to use every number


UPDATE: MY WONDERFULLY STUPID SCIENCE TEACHER CAME TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING, AFTER ASKING HIS WIFE ABOUT THAT QUESTION... GUESS WHAT HE FOUND OUT:
IT'S
7
9
16
20

THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE NUMBER 9 WAS ACTUALLY A 9, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A SIX

I'm really sorry... I didn't realize that I had the wrong numbers before I posted the riddle.

[Liam]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 8:42pm

can you PM me the answer?

[kangaroo]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 8:44pm

it's coming... but just so you know one number is changed ... if my post didn't make any sense

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 8:47pm

7
9
16
20
Hmmm.....
I can't do it and I'm supposed to be smart!

[Liam]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 8:47pm

thank you


my computer is retarted so i cant send one back sorry


but thanks

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 8:50pm

Liam-what is it????

[babygiraffeboots]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 9:26pm

20(9-7)-16=24

[The Grovers Corners Yenta]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 9:34pm

I don't do math...or windows

[etheb]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 9:41pm

well once you have the right numbers, it's really easy!!! sheesh. i still like my way :p

[kangaroo]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:50pm

well... sorry!!

It didn't even occur to my teacher that he might have the wrong numbers... and he gave it to us on a Friday...
And to think, I made you think for nothing!

And yes etheb, I loved your way too

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 12:36pm

i guess i missed the part stating we could re-order the numbers. i thought part of the challenge was using them in the order presented!