Contest 2017.10 Native American Day Math Contest

Sorry, the contest is over.  Come back in another week for Halloween Contest.

Operator Game is a fun and creative way to play with numbers. The goal of the Operator Game is to create an equation to reach the target number from 4 given numbers using a set of allowed operators.

Rules: 

Operators allowed and points:

·       1 point: addition (+), subtraction (-).

·       2 points: multiplication (*), division (/).

·       3 points: exponent (2^3 or exp(2,3)), square root (sqrt(4))

Requirements: Each given number is used exactly once. No other numbers can be used. The same operator cannot be applied repeatedly if the result is the same or infinitely to get a converging number to avoid infinite points.

Goal: Find an expression with as many points as possible, using the given 4 numbers exactly once and the allowed operators to produce the target number.


Examples:

Numbers given are 2,3,4,5. Target number: 7

Possible solutions:

  • Expression A: 5+((2+4)/3) = 7. Operators used: +, +, /. Total poins: 1,1,2 => 4
  • Expression B: 3+5-(sqrt(4)/2) = 7. Operators used: +,-,sqrt, /. Total points: 1,1,3,2 => 7
  • Expression C: 3+5-sqrt(sqrt(4)/2)) = 7. Operators used: +,-,sqrt,sqrt,/. Total points: 1,1,3,3,2 => 10
  • Expression D: 3+5-sqrt(sqrt(sqrt(sqrt(4)/2)))) = 7. => Illegal expression since sqrt() was repeatedly applied to 1.
  • Expression E: Exp(5 + sqrt(4),sqrt(3-2)) = 7. => 12 points.


Contest problems:


Problem A:

Numbers given: 1, 4, 6, 8.         Target number: 2.


Problem B:

Numbers given: 3, 10, 12, 13.         Target number: 10.



For youth under 18 years old, submit your answers for Problem A and B here.


For adults over 18 years old, submit your answers for Problem A and B here.



Winner Board: To win a recognition on the winner board, please submit your expressions by midnight Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. 

Winner Prize: 

    Youth Division, Jamba Juice Buy One Get One Free Gift Card

    Adult Division,  $25 Amazon Gift Card

                        

Like it?  Join us in our upcoming "Logic, Patterns, and Problem Solving" Class

Any question? Email Contest@WonderlandMath.com.

 

Tips on Operator Game

Tips on the Operator Game:

·        Square Root: sqrt(4) = 2 because 4 = 2*2. Sqrt(9) = 3. Sqrt(100) = 10.

·        Exponent: 2^3 = 2 * 2 * 2. 5^2 = 5 * 5 = 25.

Example 1:

Numbers given are 2,3,4,5. Target number: 7

Expression A: 5+((2+4)/3) = 7. Operators used: +, +, /. Total poins: 1,1,2 => 4

Expression B: 3+5-(sqrt(4)/2) = 7. Operators used: +,-,sqrt, /. Total points: 1,1,3,2 => 7

Expression C: 3+5-sqrt(sqrt(4)/2)) = 7. Operators used: +,-,sqrt,sqrt,/. Total points: 1,1,3,3,2 => 10

Expression D: 3+5-sqrt(sqrt(sqrt(sqrt(4)/2)))) = 7. => Illegal expression since sqrt() was repeatedly applied to 1.

Expression F: Exp(5 + sqrt(4),sqrt(3-2)) = 7. => 12 points.

Other ways to make 7:

2^3 – sqrt((5-4)) = 7. => 8 points.

2*3+sqrt(5-4)=7. => 6 points

3*(2*sqrt(4))-5 => 8 poins.

 


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