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enter image description here

Rewriting the puzzle in text:

Move exactly 2 matchsticks to make this equality true:

4 + 9 - 7 = 1

Important Points:

  • By the word 'move', I would also like to allow the possibility of 'remove', to allow for additional creative solutions.
  • You can use both operations, move and remove, in your solution, but the total number of matchsticks which you move or remove should be 2 only.
  • That is, you can do one of the following alternatives:
    • 2 move operations
    • 2 remove operations
    • 1 move and 1 remove operation (in any order)
  • The equality must not be converted into inequalities. Please don't modify the equality symbol.
  • Please do not introduce more matchsticks into the puzzle.
  • I don't have a full list of solutions.
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4
  • $\begingroup$ Where did you find the image? $\endgroup$
    – bobble
    Jul 23, 2021 at 17:56
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ I clicked a picture at home. $\endgroup$
    – VedantBang
    Jul 23, 2021 at 17:57
  • $\begingroup$ Although the question has been marked as closed, Viewers are encouraged to think of more solutions. Happy Puzzling! $\endgroup$
    – VedantBang
    Jul 26, 2021 at 5:51
  • $\begingroup$ That is the reason it was closed - there appear to be an unlimited number of solutions, which is not how puzzles here are supposed to work $\endgroup$
    – bobble
    Jul 26, 2021 at 19:02

6 Answers 6

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OP explicitly forbids tinkering with the given equals sign, but

nothing is said about adding a second one.

Therefore, moving two:

-4 + 5 = 1 = 1

Similarly, removing one and moving (or rather just very slightly nudging) one:

-1 + 9 - 7 = 1

And a third one (move two):

11 + 3 - 7 = 7

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  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Haha, that's pretty clever :D $\endgroup$
    – VedantBang
    Jul 24, 2021 at 3:36
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By removing matchsticks:

Pick up the horizontal matchsticks at the top and bottom of the 9, leaving 4+4-7=1.

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7
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Here's another solution, by moving two times.

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ Note that this also works the other way round (i.e. you can swap the first two numbers). $\endgroup$
    – loopy walt
    Jul 23, 2021 at 20:57
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1 + 9 - 9 = 1 (move two left-most from 4 to make 1, add two to 7 to make 9)

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Another solution that moves two matchsticks:

-4 + 6 - 1 = 1 (Convert the 9 to 6, and use the top of the 7 to make a negative sign)

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2
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9 - 9 + 1 = 1 (move the vertical matchstick from + onto 4 to make a 9 and then move top horizontal matchstick from 7 to change the second - into a +)

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