$1484 / (7 / 9) = 19$
Make the equation true by moving one continuous shape or operation in the equation.
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4$\begingroup$ -1 until the directions become more clear on what is expressly allowed. $\endgroup$– user1717828Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:53
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2$\begingroup$ @RohitJose There are multiple distinct answers that fit those rules. $\endgroup$– maxathousandCommented Sep 12, 2018 at 20:34
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3$\begingroup$ Is there a valid solution in this puzzle? $\endgroup$– u-ndefinedCommented Sep 13, 2018 at 11:18
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4$\begingroup$ By continuous shape, do you mean a contiguous black shape? Not a region containing multiple separate black shapes? Is it acceptable to change numbers into other numbers by overlaying lines on them? Is it acceptable to break a shape and move only part of it? Is grouping/parentheses considered a single operation (I mean, can you freely move both parentheses around, or must any movement just be one parenthesis?). I've been staring at this for way too long... $\endgroup$– JustinCommented Sep 13, 2018 at 18:19
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4$\begingroup$ I think I have to downvote - the rules keep changing, and even though there has been a series of answers that met the rules at the time, you've changed the rules to make them invalid. This has become a game of "guess what I am thinking" not "find a valid answer". $\endgroup$– eedrahCommented Sep 14, 2018 at 14:15
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Show 19 more comments
14 Answers
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In a similar method to Vaelus' answer, take the
empty space above the equation connecting the 8 and the second
/, like so:
EDIT: The continuous shape that I've extracted is given by the blue here, which fits the requirements of the original question:
If you then
rotate this 135 degrees clockwise, you will see that the slash is now vertical and looks like a 1, and the 8 looks like two diagonal zeros
Either
shrink this
or
change the distance of the two pieces from the viewer to simulate zooming. It will look like the following:
Superimpose this back on the remainder to get this:
Which gives us
the modulo operator, and the equation
1441 % (79) = 19
Which is true
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2$\begingroup$ Wouldn't this be considered moving two things? $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 22:00
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1$\begingroup$ Yes, that is moving two things $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 14, 2018 at 6:33
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$\begingroup$ I've added another image to show that this meets the requirements of the question, by "moving one continuous shape". It is moving two glyphs, but they are connected by a continuous shape. $\endgroup$– eedrahCommented Sep 14, 2018 at 14:11
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$\begingroup$ @Robert S. If you read the last comment on the original post you’ll understand $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 14, 2018 at 16:46
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If you move the continuous region of background outlined in red to the indicated location:
The equation becomes true:
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2$\begingroup$ Hahhah, this made me laugh. Very creative $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:27
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$\begingroup$ Wow... that’s unbelievable... I never thought of that $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:43
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4$\begingroup$ I like the circuit board. Nice touch $\endgroup$– CullubCommented Sep 13, 2018 at 13:11
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$\begingroup$ I don't get this answer, is the slash supposed to represent a slanted one? $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 21:47
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$\begingroup$ @AnthonyPham Yes, although it's certainly not good style. I don't know what the author was thinking. $\endgroup$– VaelusCommented Sep 13, 2018 at 21:49
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Maybe
Take the first(or second) slash/division and put over the equal sign(that's what everyone else does).
To get
1484(7/9)≠19
If this is allowed :p
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3$\begingroup$ Nooooo! Not that! UGHHH! Do I have to specify this every time I make something like this? $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 17:33
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3$\begingroup$ For what it’s worth, I officially approve of this answer haha! $\endgroup$– El-GuestCommented Sep 12, 2018 at 17:56
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$\begingroup$ I think you meant to write second. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 17:59
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2$\begingroup$ "Do I have to specify this every time I make something like this?" Only if you want to ask a community that tries its hardest to bend the rules... I mean think laterally to get an answer. $\endgroup$– AlphaCommented Sep 12, 2018 at 23:10
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Move the $1$ in $1484$ and move it to cross the $1$ in $19$.
$484 / (7 / 9) = x9$
The solution to this equation is $x = 484/7$.
UPDATE: In response to the hint (I'm sure this is still not the answer OP is wanting, however, it fits the rules just fine), the same trick can be done by moving either of the division signs.
$1484 (7 / 9) = x9$; Solution: $x = 10388/81$
or
$1484 / (79) = x9$; Solution: $x = 1484/711$
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1$\begingroup$ This is interesting, but not right because you haven’t defined the x, so you don’t know if it’s correct $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 15:03
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$\begingroup$ @RohitJose Did I misinterpret any of the rules? There seems to be many valid answers... $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 15:04
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$\begingroup$ @RohitJose An equation is a statement that the values of two mathematical expressions are equal (source). This is, by definition, an equation, just as $a = b$ is an equation. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 16:20
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$\begingroup$ I may be speaking out of my expertise here, but I don't believe it's possible to call an equation that includes an algebraic expression true or false. If you mean "solvable", then yes, there exists a solution for which $484/(7/9) = x9$ is true. All of this really is irrelevant to solving your puzzle, as you've already indicated this is not the answer you have in mind. Would you consider adding a hint to narrow down the possible answers? $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 17:01
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An alternative solution...
Take the $=$ sign and spin it 90 degrees to make it into a logical OR operator $||$. Thus, the resulting expression is: $1484/(7/9) || 19$ which equates to TRUE since both sides of the || are not equal to $0$.
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$\begingroup$ Welcome to Puzzling.SE! I would imagine that this falls under the "no inequality signs" rule, which is designed to prevent exactly these sorts of sneaky answers. $\endgroup$– F1KrazyCommented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:15
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$\begingroup$ Wow I didn’t think of that! Well done, but as above, no cheaty answers $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:19
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$\begingroup$ I don't think this is making an inequality sign. If OP doesn't want someone touching the
=he should expressly disallow moving or modifying it. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:25 -
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I'm sure this isn't what you want either:
Assuming rotation is allowed, move the second division sign over to the equals sign and make it "defined as".
Like:
1484/(79) ≡ 19. Not sure why you'd want to define it this way though...
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I think if
The equation was formed like $1484 / (\frac 7{9}) = 19$
We could
Move a copy of $\frac 7{9}$ over the $84$ to make it $14\frac 7{9} / (\frac 7{9}) = 19$
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$\begingroup$ That's an interesting idea, but incorrect $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 19:34
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Well, I'm sure this isn't the correct answer; however, if you round up!
14(84/7/9) = 18.6... rounded up = 19.
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1$\begingroup$ If you leave a down-vote, please comment and explain how I can improve my post. $\endgroup$– TacoCommented Sep 12, 2018 at 21:00
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Take the
First division sign
and use it to
strikethrough the 4, 8, and 7
to get
$1$
484(7/$9)$$=19$
Or
$19=19$
SOLUTION #2 Re-read the title.
The 'thing' i'm putting in the equation is
08, at the end.
Which is
$1484/(7/9)$ $=$ $1908$
Math:
$1484/(7/9)$ --> $(1484*9)/7$ --> $1908$
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$\begingroup$ The ROT13(svefg qvivfvba fvta) is not that long! $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:05
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$\begingroup$ Good idea, but what about the dots? Also, yes, as Wais Kamal said, it’s not THAT long $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:09
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$\begingroup$ Oh yea. Right. Back to the drawing board with more CREATIVE solutions $\endgroup$– AltoCommented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:11
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$\begingroup$ I see where you're going with the second solution, but "08" would not be considered a continuous shape since the two numbers are separated. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:50
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I'm pretty sure this is not what you want either, but
if you take the bottom line of the equal sign and tilt it upward, you make an awkward greater than sign and $1484/(7/9)>19$ is true.
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$\begingroup$ xhienne tried this already, but good try $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:17
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$\begingroup$ @RohitJose SteveV was first to propose an inequality. But this one is different. $\endgroup$– xhienneCommented Sep 12, 2018 at 20:21
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A similar idea as others who have fiddled with the equal sign:
move the second
/over the equal sign in order to make a≤sign
This yields: $1484/(79) ≤ 19$
(which is correct since 1484 / 79 ~= 18.78)
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1$\begingroup$ This would require two moves, so I don't think it qualifies. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 18:47
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$\begingroup$ No @RobertS, the equal sign doesn't change despite what the font is displaying. $\endgroup$– xhienneCommented Sep 12, 2018 at 18:49
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1$\begingroup$ Also, the problem is to make a true equation $\endgroup$– VaelusCommented Sep 12, 2018 at 18:53
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1$\begingroup$ @RohitJose That seems unfair then. Now this puzzle has devolved into a "guess what I'm thinking" game. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:23
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1$\begingroup$ @maxathousand Ok, let me rephrase, as seen now in the question, no messing with the = sign $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 19:41
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If we could
take the slanty bit off the top of the first 4
We are left with
1 + 84 / (7/9) = 19
and we can
place a single straight line somewhere
to make it all work out.
But
1 + 84/(7/9) = 109
and I can't find a way to
turn 19 into 109 by adding a single straight line
(or any other way to proceed down this line of thinking)
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$\begingroup$ You are not on the right track, but good try $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 19:33
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$\begingroup$ You can even get to the same place by removing the first 4 entirely. The left hand side 1 84/(7/9) could arguably be considered implicit multiplication by 1 or addition of 1 like a strange mixed fraction, to get 108 or 109. I can't figure out how to use a 4 on the right hand side either though. $\endgroup$– JustinCommented Sep 13, 2018 at 19:35
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If you
lasso a region containing the two 1s and move them both down a bit, you end up with
$1^{484/(7/9)} = 1^9$
Each side just simplifies to get
$1 = 1$
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2$\begingroup$ Good answer, but that moves 2 ones. Welcome to Puzzling.SE! Also, the hint says "don't move a digit" so, yeah. $\endgroup$– AltoCommented Sep 13, 2018 at 23:30
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$\begingroup$ It moves 2 ones, but by the same amount, and you could easily define a single region containing only them. Seems just as legitimate as the accepted answer to me. $\endgroup$– JustinCommented Sep 15, 2018 at 18:28
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You can simply move the
second division sign to connect the tail of the 9 to the bottom of the circle of the 9, making the 9 into an 8. As a result, the equation is now $$1484 / (78) = 19$$ As long as we use the computer science
/operator, namely floored division, the equation is true.
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$\begingroup$ Good try, but I was meaning that to be the division operator, the floor operator is // $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 14, 2018 at 6:35