Can You Solve the 24 Puzzle Challenge? Let's Find Out!
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Chapter 1: Discovering the 24 Game
I have fond memories of playing the 24 game during my elementary school days. In this game, we would randomly select four numbers and use basic arithmetic operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—to reach the total of 24. This time, however, we're not restricted to just those operations; feel free to explore any mathematical functions you can think of. Are you ready to take on the challenge? I encourage you to pause here, grab a pen and paper, and give it a try. Once you've attempted it, continue reading for the answer!
In case you're not familiar, the number 24 can also be expressed as 4! (4 factorial), which equals 4 × 3 × 2 × 1. The essence of this puzzle lies in understanding the factorial function.
Section 1.1: Understanding Factorials
Why is 1! equal to 1? Interestingly, 0! is also equal to 1. Can you see where we're going with this? We can transform each zero into 0! and combine them first.
Now, this calculation equates to 1 + 1 + 1 + 1, which totals 4. The next step is straightforward; we simply need to apply the factorial once more.
And there you have it—our final answer!
Bonus Challenge: Can You Make 24?
Transform the numbers 9, 2, 1, and 8 into 24. Check the comments for the solution to this one!
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash
Isn't it fascinating? What was your thought process during this challenge? I’d love to hear your insights in the comments below!
Chapter 2: Exploring More Math Puzzles
The second video showcases one of the toughest puzzles: Can you create 24 using the numbers 3, 3, 8, and 8? Watch and see if you can crack this one!
Math Puzzles
Discover an array of intriguing math puzzles on Medium, covering topics from algebra to geometry, calculus, and number theory. Share this with your friends and challenge them!
Bella’s Weekly Math Games
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