Sumthing’s Up
One day your minimalist friend is visiting, and she presents you with the numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5, and the symbols = and +, and the following tantalizing challenge:ย It is possible to use each number and symbol once and only once and end up with a true equation; further, you cannot use any number or symbol not given. How can you do this?
Communicated by Samantha Bergh, who heard it from a Wisconsin math teacher, who believes he read it on a Cheerios box.
hi mr miller ur problems are too hard for me and i cant solve any but im trying rlly hard im sad cause im not smart can u teach me how to become smarter so i can solve them
To: [email protected]
NO, email me at [email protected] to discuss
cannot use and. also email address is not working: email me at [email protected]
2+5=3 and 4
your email address doesn’t work — this is wrong as only have one plus sign
2+5=3+4
sorry you feel this is rubbish
this is to give people the joy of solving it and not just running to the answers
your answer, sadly, is wrong. you do not have a square-root as you need more than just a 2 for that, you need some line
segments….
also your email didn’t work….
Answer is 3 2= 4+5, where is square root of 3 is equal to 9, which can be equated to 4 + 5. Answer should have been given, instead of wasting peples time while forcing them to send a personal email, total rubbish.
Email me (sjm1 AT williams.edu) with a real email address if you want a hint
answer?
To: [email protected]
Message: Correct, email bounced
3^2=5+4
“Drops Mic”
To: Hello: Email me at [email protected]
sadly no as this requires two plus signs and you only have one. ..s
Is it 3+4=2+5?
Because both sides simplify to equal 7 meaning that both sides are equal.
nope
an X looks different than a + sign
is a way to do it…
can you rotate the addition sign to make it x and then make it
23x=45
—- —
23 23
x=45/23
and the answer would be 45/23’s
is this correct?????
Hints sent — always feel free to email me at [email protected] for hints, and for the password to the student / teacher webpage. ..s
I’d love more hints and solutions. I am going to use these with the students that I tutor. Once they do some work, I give them math riddles at the end as their “fun” ending to our lesson and I know these will stump them and they’ll love it. Problem is…they are stumping me too! Send me hints and solutions to the Sumthin’s Up and Palindrome problems please.
Thank you zillions for these!
Natalie
You can email me at sjm1 AT williams.edu for hints; if that doesn’t work I’ll send a soln.
Is their anywhere I can get the solutions to the riddles?
yes
To:la ergerg.com [email protected]
Your solns are correct but emails to you bounce. Please email me at sjm1 AT williams.edu
Do you have to use all the numbers? ๐
can’t use the 2
21\7*5+6\1=21
Glad you’re enjoying.
My family all the time say that I am wasting my time here at net, but I know I am
getting knowledge everyday by reading thes pleasant articles or reviews.
just checking in on how things are going — sjm1 AT williams.edu
Hello Professor Miller,
My name is Donna Reaves, and I teach 5th Grade Math at East Elementary School in Greenwood, MS. On our test each Friday, there is a riddle for students to work on for bonus points. Last week, we used this riddle, so we voted on Monday to send you three of the possible solutions that several students found. We appreciate any comments you may have for us. Our solutions are as follows:
Solution # 1:
23 + 45 = (many students came up with this and realize that the equation is not balanced, but we wanted to get your comments anyway!)
Solution # 2:
4 * 2 = 5 + 3 (Is the dot when used for multiplication considered to be a symbol?)
Solution # 3:
4/2 + 3 = 5 (Is the division line in a fraction considered to be a symbol?)
Again, thank you for your comments!
Best,
Donna Reaves and the East Elementary 5th Grade Class
No: email to you bounces: I’m sjm1 AT williams.edu
yes if the numbers are put togeather
yes
do you have to use all symbols
I just found this page and love it. Can I get a solution to this? Do you have a solutions page or will I need to keep bothering you ๐
tb: your email address doesn’t work but you are correct
Mrog: you are correct but email to you bounced. //s
very very original, but there is a solution without breaking the + apart
Can you break apart the plus sign and make it
5-4=3-2
Did you get my email? sjm1 AT williams.edu
Can I please have a hint and the soln?
This is for a math project!
anonymous: correct, email me at sjm1 AT williams.edu to discuss problems
You can do math and dancing: http://vimeo.com/47049144
I only like dancing i don’t know why i am even on this web site.
It is — sjm1 AT williams.edu
It can — sjm1 AT williams.edu
It can’t be done, can it?
sam: sam: well done (sjm1 AT williams.edu)
sending hint
Can you please send me a hint and the answer.
hint sent (sjm1 AT williams.edu)
can you pls email me the answer
very clever, but there’s a soln using the numbers as is (sjm1 AT williams.edu)
I told this to my brother.
He said that if you turn the + on its side, you can do
x=2345
to anonymous: well done! (sjm1 AT williams.edu)
slide: well done!
The big LEH: well done! not posting as it’s the soln (sjm1 AT williams.edu)
well done Anonymous Submitted on 2012/07/24 at 3:40 am
please give me the answer im very desesperated plz
that requires two additions and you only have one; email me at sjm1 AT williams.edu to chat more
3+4=5+2 is what i think it to be, if wrong kindly send the right answer
Not seeing how this works — can you elaborate?
Is 534+2= correct
Mona: correct, not posting as it’s the answer
not sure why this works — can you email me (sjm1 AT williams.edu)? /s
Kyle: correct, not posting as this is the answer
send me your email and I’ll send a hint: sjm1 AT williams.edu
Plz email me the answer
534 + 2 =
MNmathteach: correct. Not posting as it’s the soln.
VERY original, but as you say no = and thus not the ‘simple’ soln that exists…. (note: the formatting might not appear properly: the 2 is over the + and the 5 is under)
Can you please send me the solution? Probably will be obvious, but… not now!
2
3 + 4
5 but, no “=” sign! sigh!
(Web site is not published other than the general school info)
nope
Can we use brackets?
you’ve added a comma, can’t do that
3+4=2,5
send me a hint please
yes
Are the comma’s counted as symbols?
let me email you a hint first — if that doesn’t help I’ll send the soln ..s
Hi, Can you email me the solution please? I’m using this in class next week. Love your site by the way!
no, there’s an exact soln //s (sjm1 AT williams.edu)
Not sure if I have gotten it right, but can it be 3,4+2=5? Considering 5,4 can be ‘approximately’ 5?
sure, will send in a moment are you using these in class?
I love your site! This one is making me pull my hair out! May I have a hint?
good originality, but there’s a much better soln
can I make the = into a =/= (does not equal) by overlapping the plus onto the equals sign? .. so 42 =/= 35
I’ll send a hint //s
I’ll send a hint/ s
can you email me the answer please?
it’s doable — email me at sjm1 AT williams.edu for a soln / hint
It seems impossible! /:
unfortunately this doesn’t work as it uses TWO plus signs, and you only have one at your disposal. //s
4+3=5+2
bob: correct! not posting as it’s the soln. well done. /s/
sure, sent ..s
Hint Please
sure
what does soln mean
and can you send me a hint
I’ll send a hint first. //s
can u email me the answer
It can — you need to think outside the box.
this is impossible. it cannot be done by just using the numbers 2 3 4 and 5 and symbols = and +
Not following this.
If three people fit in a square, is that not for night?
xiaomilk: correct, well done. not posting as it’s the soln.
anonymous: correct: not posting as it’s the soln.
you need to use 4 as well….
2+3=5
nope — you can only use one plus sign
2+5 = 3+4
nice — I should put this with the ‘pick up sticks’ riddle….
I have a question for you:
5+5+5=550
make this above question valid by adding just one line. (I think you have seen this question before)
Dee: correct, well done. not posting as this is the soln.
gbnfdb: correct, well done! not posting as it’s the soln
koch: correct, well done!
Becca: you can (not posting your question as it gives away the answer)
email me at sjm1 AT williams.edu for the soln or a hint..s
what’s the answer?
but what happened to 4? I’ll send an email. //s
is the answer “2+3=5” if it is wrong pls answer me the correct one…
sure, will send a hint //s
I need the answer to Sumthings up please. I love your site!
Anne
Nice attempt, but you don’t have a division sign….
4/2 + 3 = 5
nice attempt, but you can’t use and.
2+5 equals 4 and 3
Nope — email me at [email protected] if you want a hint/soln
23+45=
Applejacks: correct! Not posting as its the soln. ..s
Dakota: correct, well done! Not posting as it’s the soln. //s
big brain — correct, not posting as its the soln
4+5=3^2
To: a 5 year old boy: correct, well done! Not posting it as it’s the answer.
unfortunately this doesn’t work — nice try, but you can’t use and as an operation (though I really like this thinking outside the box approach)
5+2=4 and 3
glad you’re enjoying the site. We’re working on a student/teacher’s corner with more info on how to attack, solve, connections to modern math. if you and/or your students want to help or get updates, let me know.
please send me the answer. I’m a sub and this would be great as a filler. I can’t for the life of me figure it out! ๐
Sure. I’m also hoping to get a student / teacher page with connections to higher mathematics, comments on how to attack problems, …. If you and your students are interested in helping our updates, let me know ([email protected]). //s
May I please have the answer for my Math class?
Sure — let me know how the math night goes. //s
i would like to use this for a math family night, i cant figure out the answer help!!!
J-crew: correct, not posting as it’s the soln. well done.
Hi steven can you please email me the answer.
sure //s
can i have the answer emailed please?
Lance: correct — not posting as it’s the soln
those are just their names, P = Product and S = Sum; this is designed to make it easy to remember.
What does P and S have to do with? That just confused me!
Not deleting as this time you’re in error. The problem is that you use TWO addition signs, and you only have one.
2+5=3+4
delete commnet after youve read it
Kiana and Lane: correct, well done! Not posting as it’s the soln.
kareem: correct! not posting as it’s the soln
Author : I. Singh (IP: 59.178.33.95 , triband-del-59.178.33.95.bol.net.in): correct — not posting as it’s the soln
I tried but the email bounced — please email me at [email protected]
Can you email mail me the answer please?!!
Bryan: correct! not posting as it’s the soln
Eva: correct, well done — not posting as it’s the soln
sure — sending the soln //s
I can’t figure it out..please help
sure – hint emailed: try just 2 couples, then just 3 couples. look for a pattern
sure — hint emailed
I need help PLEASE!
I have no clue! Answer please? ๐
Can’t use a minus sign, only have = and +
5-4=3-2
unfortunately this isn’t the answer, as we don’t have two plus signs,only one.
2+5=3+4
To whomever Submitted on 2011/10/04 at 1:12 am: correct!
4+5=3 to the 2nd power
To whomever posted at Submitted on 2011/09/23 at 11:52 am — correct!
To: jackfrom341
137.165.171.182
Submitted on 2011/09/12 at 9:50 pm
Correct soln!
Have to use all the numbers — will email you the soln.
2+3=5
Forget number 4 ๐
please give answer ๐
Sure — I’ll email you now. //s
Whomever posted at 4.30pm: correct!
Whomever posted at 5.06pm: correct!
Can you please provide a better hint to get started? Four of us can’t figure where to get started with only and it’s bugging us! We are trying to think out of the box, but seem limited in our options.
yes — only have one plus sign
2+5=3+4
Really? Did I got tricked somewhere. It seems too easy to be true.
not quite; isn’t 4 squared 16?
4 squared = 3+5
Sure, as long as you provide links that’s fine. //s
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Correct solution to this problem — not posting as it shows the answer
Correct post earlier today — I’m not showing it here as it is the right answer.
To “d” who anonymously posted on 2011/05/27 at 12:56 am
Correct solution, well done; I’m not posting as it’s the answer.
If you want a hint let me know: sjm1 AT williams.edu
i cudnt do it !
To the anonymous poster (Lori?): your solution is correct; I don’t want to display your post as that would give it away to those still thinking about this. //s
I’ll email you a hint on the bridge problem. 2 to the 4th power is 16, which isn’t 5+3. You’re on the right track though.
5+3=2 to the 4th power?
Can’t figure out the 4 men crossing the bridge?
I’m a math teacher and would love to share this with my kids. What is the answer!?
Sadly, it isn’t 2+5 = 4+3; you don’t have two + signs, only one
2+5=4+3
To the person who just tried to post (Sara?): your answer was correct, but I don’t want to post it as that would give away the answer to anyone who comes here.
I apologize for not posting the response by unknown; it contained the correct answer and I prefer not to have those posted here so people can enjoy the riddle.
All the riddles on the page SHOULD be solvable — if not I apologize!
it is possible!!!!!!!!!!boooooyyaaaaaa in yo face
No, as you’ve written a multiplication in, and you’re not supposed to have any symbol other than = or +
(2)(4)=3+5?
This should be reclassified as medium. For a hint: try thinking about what numbers P and S would know. For example, if the product is 6 or 10 or 14 or 77, P immediately knows it. Why?
If this is easy than I need to do more math workouts!
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