Avatars

[geoo]

Well, the fish one is fairly simple.

I know one probably known, maybe a bit unfair:

Correct the following equation moving only one stick:
|| = XX|| / V|||

(The '/' is actually a fraction line, not a matchstick, but I suppose even if it was a matchstick, it wouldn't change the solution.)

[Conway]

Take any one of the '|'s and put it through the '=', to mean 'does not equal'.

[geoo]

Well, it's called 'correct the equation', in your case it's no equation anymore.
However, good idea.

[Conway]

Well you said it may be unfair, so I was expecting it to be something cheap like that.

[geoo]

Yeah, it's unfair IMO, but not cheap.

Actually, the equation after changing is not completely correct: The right term is only an approximate value.

[guest]

What's the correct answer? I moved one of the sticks in the V to the left side.

[guest]

Oh, there are 2 X's...

[ccexplore]

Actually, the equation after changing is not completely correct: The right term is only an approximate value.

Well then, that's not an equation either!

The equal sign in mathematics really does mean absolute equality.  If it is only an approximate equality, you need to use the squiggly equal sign to denote that.

[DragonsLover]

Code Select Expand

| \/ - \  / |
| /\ -  \/  |

As you can see above, the equation is not true. The number nine (IX) shouldn't equal six (VI). Just add 3 sticks to make this equation correct.

[geoo]

Well then, that's not an equation either!

The equal sign in mathematics really does mean absolute equality.  If it is only an approximate equality, you need to use the squiggly equal sign to denote that.

Well yes, I know, but anyway, I know it that way.

In fact, have you ever seen a completely even matchstick? I really doubt that. So, the equal sign, laid down using matchsticks, will never be one.
(OK, that is just a cheap excuse; when I draw an equal sign using a pencil it isn't completely even either. )

Anyway, the answer is...
 _
|| = XX|| / X||
(This is meant to be a Pi; and note, the matchsticks forming the '=' aren't completely even. )

[ccexplore]

In fact, have you ever seen a completely even matchstick? I really doubt that. So, the equal sign, laid down using matchsticks, will never be one.

I didn't even know they are laid down using matchsticks.  I thought it was like the fraction bar which is somehow special and drawn with the pencil rather than built with matchsticks.

[Proxima]

The answer to DragonsLover's puzzle is to place a I after the X, making it 1 x 1, and a bar over the I on the right side, making a square-root sign.

[ccexplore]

Interesting.  Though that would make for a somewhat ugly-looking square-root sign.  I was thinking it should be more like this in matchsticks:

Code Select Expand

    --
   / |
 \/  |

[DragonsLover]

Ahribar, ccexplore, nope! These aren't the solution!

[Timballisto]

Cheap? &#A0;I don't think so. &#A0;I think it's easy. &#A0;It took me about seven seconds to solve.

Take the stick farthest left and put it on the right side of the division sign 10/2 = 5