Four matchsticks puzzle

Question

Take 4 matchsticks and set them out in this pattern:

VII

In mathematics this is 7 in Roman numerals. Now move just a single matchstick and the answer should be 1 (one).

score 43 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 21 '17 at 09:51

43

You

move the right-most matchstick to go above the others and horizontal,

so that

the matches spell out $\sqrt{1}$, which is of course 1.

Like this:

answered Aug 21 '17 at 09:51

Rand al'Thor

116,845
28
322
627

6

This is only the correct answer if you focus on the positive side of life. – J A Terroba Aug 23 '17 at 18:46

score 41 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 21 '17 at 10:24

41

Move

one of the I's to the beginning

like so:

I V I which in logic and proper numerals is 1 or 1

giving

the answer true

which is

binary value of 1

answered Aug 21 '17 at 10:24

Dexter

946
5
11

score 18 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 22 '17 at 08:32

18

Turn the V into an X (XII). In Polish notation this is '* 1 1' = 1.

answered Aug 22 '17 at 08:32

JMP

35,612
7
78
151

1

That's very creative – smci Aug 22 '17 at 11:45
4

This is a different kind of Polishing. – Rand al'Thor Aug 22 '17 at 13:48

score 13 · Answer 4 · edited Aug 22 '17 at 09:29

13

I'd say you can

strike through the V with an I, so that the V is a mistake! This gives VI which is one.

I kept thinking that the answer must be in Roman numerals and thus came up with this.

edited Aug 22 '17 at 09:29

boboquack

21,982
1
66
138

answered Aug 22 '17 at 08:11

LAFK says Reinstate Monica

231
1
5

score 10 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 22 '17 at 02:11

10

You

take the right-most matchstick, and polish it until it has a mirror-like sheen, then place it above the others and look at it at from a very low viewpoint, so that the matchsticks and their reflection look

like this:

/\ |
\/ |

which reads

01

PS

Best of luck with the polishing ;)

answered Aug 22 '17 at 02:11

Ergwun

2,780
1
12
14

Ho ho ho, very smart – smci Aug 22 '17 at 11:44

score 8 · Answer 6 · edited Aug 22 '17 at 12:10

8

Other answers are really so weird... Should not it be like this:

Move the first match below the two last matches
/||
|

edited Aug 22 '17 at 12:10

Community

1

answered Aug 22 '17 at 10:04

Cordfield

120
6

Welcome to Puzzling.SE. This is a very good first try :) – ABcDexter Aug 22 '17 at 11:34

score 3 · Answer 7 · answered Aug 23 '17 at 15:36

3

Moving the last match to the first position makes: IVI. This is the roman numeral for one thousand (since the question didn't specify one of what).

answered Aug 23 '17 at 15:36

spacetyper

516
2
6

Four matchsticks puzzle

7 Answers7