My fifth grader brought this question home for me to help her with and I am stumped! The problem is as follows; “Make 3 8s equal 7.” No further instructions or hints, any ideas? Thanks dopers!!
8 - 8/8 = 7
Presumably, you’re allowed to use the standard arithmetic operations. So the question is asking you to make an arithmetic expression using three eights which is equal to 7. The answer’s below, but don’t look unless you’re stumped.
[spoiler][symbol]If you allow squaring to be an arithmetic operation, then (8[sup]2[/sup] - 8)/8 is equal to 7. But I doubt that’s allowed.
If you don’t allow squaring, 8 - 8/8 is equal to 7.[/symbol][/spoiler]
ultra’s answer is all Greek to me.
The symbol font isn’t as useful–I forgot that it uses the same characters for numbers and arithmetic operators.
And shame on you, Nametag…
Well, heck, as long as FIREMAN44 looks at this, and not his daughter, what’s the harm?
OK, OK, 50 lashes with a wet hornbook… :smack:
Thanks Nametag & ultrafilter. I told her the truth, that you both are the heroes! So simple, but I could not think of the answer. Thanks again! I knew I could depend on you guys!
Hornbook? No way, dude, it’s a noodle or nothing!