# Simple but interesting math puzzle [duplicate]

Four numbers are available: $1$, $3$, $4$ and $6$. Every number must be used once and only once with (some of) the operations $+$, $-$, $\times$, $\div$ to form the number $24$.

It's from the book "Art of Exploitation", 2nd edition. Give it a try!

• Do we have to use every number? Otherwise 6 * 4... – Lynch Mar 8 '16 at 12:38
• Yes, every number need to be used only once. – user19985 Mar 8 '16 at 12:39
• can you confirm if writing ** or ++ is ok? – Ben Mar 8 '16 at 13:08
• no it is not okay, you can only use +, -, * and / once at time. – user19985 Mar 8 '16 at 13:09

An answer to this problem is:

$6 \div (1 - \frac34)$

• Great first answer and welcome to puzzling.stackexchange. It is customary to hide answers by using the spoiler tag >! to give others a chance to solve it on their own. – Hugh Meyers Mar 8 '16 at 12:53

A possible interpretation of the rules:

$1+3+4+6=24_{5}$

$(14-6) \times 3 = 24$

• the problems says the NUMBERS 1,3,4, and 6, not the DIGITS 1,3,4, and 6 – Kevin Mar 8 '16 at 17:31

Bit of an off the wall answer

(6-4)(3+1) forms 24 if you calculate the values within the brackets, and leave the results as they are

Not mathematically correct at all I know, it's an answer that loosely fits the wording of the puzzle

$6 \times 4 \times 1^3$