Get Seventeen
(page 69)

here is a solution to Get Five by Mike Caputo—6th Grader from Progressive School of Long Island in Merrick, NY. (Feb 2005)

I made two columns: “must” and “may.”
Under the “must” column there was the following: -, √, 1, and 9.
Under the “may” column I placed: /, x, +, =, =, 2, 2, and 3.
These are the equations that satisfy the conditions:
√9 / 1 - 2 x 3 + 2 = 5
√9 + 3 – 1 = 5
√9 x 2 – 1 = 5
√9 – 1 + 3 = 5
√1 x 9 - 3 / 2 + 2 = 5
9 / 1 x 3 – 2 = √25= 5 (In this case, it is 27-2=25, then press the square root sign to get 5)


*note: It may appear that the order of operations was not followed. However, the equations are written as they are inputted into a calculator, thus not needing to follow the order of operations.

eeps comments:

W00t! Another new problem solved! Notice how the solver has sent in more than one solution. Are there others? Also, does his sequence of keystrokes work on YOUR calculator? That is, do all calculators work the same way? I'm particularly curious about the square root key.

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