All Questions
Tagged with optimization formation-of-numbers
15
questions
6
votes
4
answers
416
views
Approximate ln(2) out of small numbers
Given numbers 1,2,...n, the goal of this puzzle is to make a number as close to the mathematical constant $\ln(2) ≈ 0.69314718055$ as possible.
Rules
You can only use the four mathematical ...
- 2,423
3
votes
2
answers
368
views
Approximate e out of small numbers
Given the numbers 1, 2, ..., n the puzzle is to try to make a number as close as possible to the mathematical constant $e$ using only the four mathematical operations +, -, *, / and parentheses (...
- 7,845
6
votes
1
answer
364
views
Add as few plus signs as possible to make equation true
To allow new users to solve this puzzle and earn reputation points, I encourage all users whose reputation is 200 or more to not post an answer until 48 hours after this question is posted. Thank you!
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- 12.7k
26
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Approximate pi out of small numbers
Given the numbers 1, 2, ..., n the puzzle is to try to make a number as close as possible to pi using only the four mathematical operations +, -, *, / and parentheses (brackets). You don't have to use ...
- 7,845
6
votes
4
answers
871
views
Paris and Wife Matchstick
Here are two matches dates that I hold with love in my heart:
The current sum is 1970 + 1997 = 3967.
You must requisition at most 10 matches so that the sum is "as big as possible". We will ...
- 6,157
3
votes
1
answer
223
views
Some blissfully ignorant math?
I was playing around with the code for my game the other day in an effort to create some unique effects. One thing I created was what I called an "ignorant assignment" in which I applied ...
- 10.6k
3
votes
1
answer
485
views
A number like waldo?
What is the smallest whole number that when its individual digits are summed, produces a number 4 digits long? For example, the number $5357$ is no where close since $5 + 3 + 5 + 7 = 20$.
Note: I'm ...
- 10.6k
3
votes
2
answers
331
views
It's kind-of like Minesweeper
Have you ever played "Minesweeper" or "Lights Out!" and wondered what it would be like to reverse the process? Me too! Say hello to a 10 by 10 grid that I like to call "Number ...
- 10.6k
-4
votes
1
answer
138
views
How to open the lock from this safe?
The puzzle is as follows:
The figure from below shows a lock mechanism used to store sensitive
data microfilms from a certain lab.
This mechanism is magnetic and consists in numbered buttons which
...
- 1,565
10
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Make 38 using the least possible digits 8
This is a follow up question to this one, which was:
Make the number 1998 using the minimum amount of digits 8.
Your allowed operations are +, -, *, /, ^, % (percent).
You need not use only integers ...
- 30.4k
-3
votes
1
answer
161
views
Use only πs to get e
I am taking this puzzle from inspiration from the Four Fours to get Pi puzzle. The puzzle rules are just slightly different. Here are the rules:
You are trying to get as close to e as possible with ...
- 2,468
6
votes
5
answers
263
views
May Make $\frac5{2020}$ 2020
For May 2020, try to create $\dfrac{5}{2020}$ using the least possible number of integers in the set $\{1,3,4,6,7,8,9\}$.
$2$, $5$ and $0$ are not allowed.
Example:
$$\dfrac{4+1}{3\left(673+\frac13\...
- 6,157
4
votes
3
answers
410
views
Number wheel Challenge!
Much like the Word-tank-wheel challenge, but numbers!
Find a number that can 'rotate' in a way that the origin number and its rotations must be divisible (i.e. whole number) by the number of times it ...
- 8,566
5
votes
5
answers
2k
views
The game of Sevens
There is a popular game, named Four fours, where you have to find the shortest mathematical expression for every number from $1$ to $n$, using only the number $4$ and some operators.
My variant of ...
- 12.6k
4
votes
2
answers
822
views
What's the largest number that can be obtained in the process of solving a numbers game on Countdown?
Countdown is a British game show in which people try and make the longest possible word out of nine given letters, reach a target number using six given numbers and basic arithmetic, and then solve a ...
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