Some Math Teasers......

For those interested the solutions I came up with for the first two were:

1) 44 + (44/4) = 55

2) (4! - sqrt4) / .4 = 55

OK, try these two.

The answers are readily available on line as they are a couple of the more difficult parts of the Four Fours puzzle but see how you get on without cheating.

1) Using four fours and common mathematical symbols make the result 113

2) Using four fours and common mathematical symbols make the result 123

Now to make you smart Alecs think a little bit more we'll say that:

a) The "log" operators are not allowed as you can get ANY positive integer by using

n = -ln[ ln( sqrt(sqrt(...(sqrt(4))...))) / ln(4) ] / ln(4)

where the number of nested sqrt() functions is twice n.


b) You may not use numeric constants (other than 4), e.g. π (pi), or e (natural logarithm base) are not allowed.

See how that floats your boats.

If it's any consolation it took me 6 months to solve these two. The solutions I came up with were the same as those suggested by David A. Wheeler who has (amazingly) produced solutions for integers 1 to 40,000!!!!!!

Enjoy!!!!