Matchstick Equations

[rookie1ja]

Matchstick Equations - Back to the Matchstick Puzzles

Try to rectify a mistake by moving a single matchstick, to get the correct equation.

(Edit: you can not place any matchstick diagonally over the equals sign)

The following equation is made of 11 matches:

XI - V = IV (more solutions)

The following equation is made of 11 matches:

X + V = IV (more solutions)

The following equation is made of 10 matches:

L + L = L (more solutions)

The following equation is made of 12 matches:

VI = IV - III (more solutions)

The following equation is made of 14 matches:

XIV - V = XX

The following equation is made of 11 matches:

IX - IX = V

The following equation is made of 12 matches:

X = VIII - II

The following equation is made of 7 matches:

VII = I

This old topic is locked since it was answered many times. You can check solution in the Spoiler below.

Pls visit New Puzzles section to see always fresh brain teasers.

Matchstick Equations - solution

XI - V = IV (more solutions) ... X - VI = IV or XI - V = VI or XI - VI = V

X + V = IV (more solutions) ... IX - V = IV or X - VI = IV

L + L = L (more solutions) ... C - L = L or L + I = LI

VI = IV – III (more solutions) ... VI = IX – III or VI = IV + II

XIV - V = XX ... XV + V = XX

IX - IX = V ... IX - IV = V

X = VIII – II ... X - VIII = II

VII = I ... square root of 1

[Guest]

What? Confused!

[Guest]

Hah, one thing you could do, is pick up a random match, and place it diagonally over the equals sign. Making the statement read, XI (doesnt equal) X.

[Guest]

1. move the I from XI over to after the V.

XI - V = IV

becomes:

X - VI = IV (10 - 6 = 4)

2. Move the I from the + to make it a -, and move it to after the V.

X + V = IV

becomes:

X - VI = IV (10 - 6 = 4)

[Guest]

Haha. square root of 1. Ha ha

[Guest]

Couldn't L + L = L also be changed with a movement of the plus sign matchstick to be L = L = L

and @ mogul, I thought of that same thing

[Guest]

i say we light all the matches and watch them burn

[Guest]

L+L=L

L+I=L I

[Guest]

For the last one, why not

From:

VII = I

To:

II-I = I

?

[Guest]

The last one can not be solved

ll-l=l

that moves to many match sticks.

[Guest]

From:

VII = I

To:

II-I = I

This moves two matchsticks (or, if you look at available space, up to 4). You are allowed to move only 1.

However, for the first problem, I tried this:

XI - V = IV to IX - V = IV (you simply move the "I" from after the X to before it, changing 11 to 9.)

L + L = L I also solved as L = L = L

[Guest]

A MESSAGE FOR MANUEL

XI - V = IV answers X-VI=IV

X + V = IV ANSWERS X-VI=IV

L + L = L ANSWERS L+I=L I

VI = IV - III ANSWER VI=IV+II

XIV - V = XX ANSWER XV+V=XX

IX - IX = V ???

X = VIII - II ANSWER X-VIII=II

VII = I ???

[Guest]

L+L=L

remove upright from + and add to first L to make it C for 100-50=50.

[Guest]

For the last one how about:

VII>I

[Guest]

L + L = L (more solutions) ... C - L = L or L + I = LI

?Why C-L=L

how about

L=L=L

[Guest]

IX - IX = V: move slightly one stick from the X to obtain V

IX - IV = V

[Guest]

From:

VII = I

To:

II-I = I

This moves two matchsticks (or, if you look at available space, up to 4). You are allowed to move only 1.

However, for the first problem, I tried this:

XI - V = IV to IX - V = IV (you simply move the "I" from after the X to before it, changing 11 to 9.)

L + L = L I also solved as L = L = L

Actually, it moves one matchstick.

You go from \/|| = | to /|-| = |, and of course the / is really just a | at an angle, so ||-|=|. I don't think the meaning was that you couldn't physically move the matchstick to give yourself enough room, you just couldn't change the formation of the sticks outside of moving the one. Otherwise a lot of them aren't solveable.

Edited February 23, 2008 by NateET

[Guest]

XI - V = IV (more solutions) ... X - VI = IV or XI - V = VI or XI - VI = V

Here, using your first solution, you moved four sticks, not one. First, you removed the "I" from "XI." Then you moved the "- V" one spot to the left (moving three sticks). Then you put the "I" back after the "- V" (thus moving the fourth stick).

This problem is apparent in each solution.

[rookie1ja]

Here, using your first solution, you moved four sticks, not one. First, you removed the "I" from "XI." Then you moved the "- V" one spot to the left (moving three sticks). Then you put the "I" back after the "- V" (thus moving the fourth stick).

This problem is apparent in each solution.

I have moved just 1 matchstick in each solution ... I will use 1 color for the moved matchstick for each of the 3 possible solutions

puzzle:

XI - V = IV

solution 1: X - VI = IV (from XI - V = IV)

solution 2: XI - V = VI (from XI - V = IV)

solution 3: XI - VI = V (from XI - V = IV)

I advise you post at least 1 puzzle in "new puzzles" section, otherwise your account will be locked

[Guest]

hmmm well is there anything that says you cant multiply because if you can then the last one is easy

From= II-I=I

To= I x I = I

[Guest]

VII = I

 √1 = 1 (square root of 1 = 1)

Or you could get "complex"

V-II = I

√-1 = i (square root of -1 = i)

[Guest]

What about the first one?

Instead of: XI-V=IV ; IX-V=IV