Correct the equation by moving $1$ match stick

Question

Since $23$ and $7$ both are primes, so I am try to make $23$ to $14$ by moving only one match stick. But I am unable to do this. Any hints will be appreciated. Here note that the line divided by denominator and numerator is also made with three matchstick.

I am new in puzzling stackexchange. So I am sorry if the the problem is trivial and if it is required to add any tag or change please edit the question.

Sometimes the "trick" to these is just using one matchstick to make ≠. Is that against the rules? — Dan Russell, Mar 08 '18 at 16:04
I don't know. I saw the problem in school's puzzle book. But I am understood your trick. — SAHEB PAL, Mar 08 '18 at 16:08

score 30 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 08 '18 at 16:11

30

Maybe not the answer, but it is so sexy it probably is:

move 1 match from the XXIII (23) and put it on top of the II (2) to make the famous Mathematical coincidence that 22/7 is roughly equal to Pi (π)

answered Mar 08 '18 at 16:11

Florian Bourse

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https://www.bhavinionline.com/2016/05/correct-equation-just-moving-1-matchstick-xxiiivii-ii/ - was about to post this – Joe Mar 08 '18 at 16:12
Upvote for being so sexy – Alex Mar 08 '18 at 18:03
It's not that much of a "coincidence". The difference is one part in 2500. There are 1000 different ways to divide a 2 digit number by a 1 digit number. – Acccumulation Mar 08 '18 at 19:51
This is actually the first thing I thought of, except that OP wants 14. I feel like this is the intended solution, though. – Xenocacia Mar 09 '18 at 02:18
2

While this may be the intended answer, it's not a correct answer, as $22/7 = \pi$ is NOT a correct statement, and hence doesn't "correct" the equation at all. – Alex Jones Mar 09 '18 at 02:59

score 10 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 09 '18 at 00:28

10

Is this cheating?

Take the second match on the RHS, break it in 3 pieces, and create three minus signs.

answered Mar 09 '18 at 00:28

Reinis Mazeiks

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I consider this perfectly within the confines of the rules defined and a much better solution than the top voted pi non-equation. – Amit Naidu Mar 09 '18 at 03:40

score 8 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 09 '18 at 00:28

A possibility, depending on how you interpret an arrangement of matchsticks:

The actual arrangement is here:

Parts of this layout are, um, ambiguous, to say the least. Here's how I would interpret the layout (without actually moving the other matchsticks):

Converting this equation to MathJax, we have:

$$ \frac{10}{5} \times \frac{3}{2} = 3 $$ $$ 2 \times \frac{3}{2} = 3 $$ $$ 3 = 3 $$

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 08 '18 at 18:44

3

If a sloppy-looking and technically-written-wrong answer is allowed, you could

Move one matchstick from the second X in XXIII to join the line of division, producing XIIII/VII=II

But,

The division line looks sloppy (unless you lay the match on top, in 3D space, of one of the existing matches?), the first I in XIIII is slanted, and XIIII is not a technically correct roman numeral (it should instead be written as XIV)

answered Mar 08 '18 at 18:44

Vitruvie

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Nothing says you can't move the one matchstick completely out of the puzzle. Of course, at that rate, nothing says you can't move a matchstick that's not in the puzzle now into it.... – RDFozz Mar 09 '18 at 20:38

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 08 '18 at 19:27

2

Make the denominator into XII. Everybody knows $\frac{23}{12}=2$.

answered Mar 08 '18 at 19:27

JMP

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Quick maths xD. – Gustavo Gabriel Mar 08 '18 at 19:29
Actually thats not true, 24/12 = 2 – watchme Mar 08 '18 at 20:00
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I think JonMark Perry forgot to say "...for sufficiently small values of 12 and 2". – Rubio Mar 08 '18 at 20:12
$23/12\approx 2$, because the answer is $22/7\approx\pi$, so my guess is good... – JMP Feb 14 '22 at 05:23

tom · Answer 6 · 2018-03-09T14:24:29.273

2

ok a bit convoluted but how about....

on the bottom IX = 9 so maybe IXII = 11

rather convoluted and not as good as some of the other answers, but worth a try....

and as pointed out in the comment below the number on the bottom could be |XI|- the modulus of 11....

edited Mar 09 '18 at 14:24

answered Mar 09 '18 at 02:11

tom

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IXII = 11 Request Denied. – Amit Naidu Mar 09 '18 at 03:47
Wait, on second thought - instead of reading that as 9+2 as you implied, we could read that as the absolute value of XI. Close, but the left stick is too bent though \XI|. Hmm, unsatisfactory, but provisionally approved pending appeal. – Amit Naidu Mar 09 '18 at 03:55
@AmitNaidu - great idea! I will edit – tom Mar 09 '18 at 09:23

Correct the equation by moving $1$ match stick

6 Answers6