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Here's a simple puzzle I just created:

Move just one matchstick to fix the next equation:

enter image description here

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5 Answers 5

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First move a matchstick like so

enter image description here

Then observe from the other direction

enter image description here

Giving

LI - L = I
a correct equation in Roman numerals.

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    $\begingroup$ Amazing! You were really fast! Just waiting to accept the answer! :) $\endgroup$
    – Pspl
    Commented Oct 19, 2020 at 9:13
  • $\begingroup$ Yes! Thank you, I've spent some time on it, but can't figure it out. Thank you! $\endgroup$
    – AntsPiano
    Commented Oct 19, 2020 at 18:09
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Alternatively you can

move the minus sign match and place it next to the equality sign, turning it into identity: 17 ≡ 17 (seventeen is identical to seventeen).

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    $\begingroup$ That's a good answer. The the spacing between the numbers on the picture makes it not a perfect one :) Good thinking though. $\endgroup$
    – Pspl
    Commented Oct 19, 2020 at 9:20
  • $\begingroup$ Another way to do the same thing is to use the minus matchstick to add a cross to a 7 so it just says 17=17 but with two different styles of 7 $\endgroup$
    – Todd Wilcox
    Commented Oct 20, 2020 at 5:30
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    $\begingroup$ @ToddWilcox You could also use that calculator-style 7 with the upper-left vertical line filled in (so it's like a serif). $\endgroup$
    – Darrel Hoffman
    Commented Oct 20, 2020 at 15:59
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Required Equation will be like this:

Attempt 1:

$1-1=0$

Attempt 2:

If 17 can not be 0 then I guess we just need to remove hyphen sign and put it aside, so it will become 17=17

Attempt 3: (though answer is already given and accepted. I am trying another way)

If we move horizontal line of 7 and put it diagonal onto equal sign then the equation will be like: 1 - 1 ≠ 17

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  • $\begingroup$ Good lateral thinking! You simply don't care about the spacing! Eh eh... However the "perfect" answer was already been discovered. $\endgroup$
    – Pspl
    Commented Oct 19, 2020 at 9:22
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Move the stick to form 17>=1717>=17

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We could also put one matchstick onto another matchstick so it covers it completely, making $17=17$.

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