How can I make this equation true by moving two matches?
It's in a game "Smart Puzzles" - it's called Matches, and there are about 13 different games in it.
Additional images - my attempts
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1$\begingroup$ Move two matches to do what? To make the equation true? $\endgroup$– Rand al'ThorSep 15, 2019 at 16:35
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$\begingroup$ Just to be clear - can matches be rotated or can they only be lifted and placed? $\endgroup$– AdamSep 15, 2019 at 16:45
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$\begingroup$ Yes the rotate when you put them where you want them $\endgroup$– Ryan BushSep 15, 2019 at 17:09
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$\begingroup$ I can't make it a times but I can make it a subtraction $\endgroup$– Ryan BushSep 15, 2019 at 17:10
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1$\begingroup$ Just a quick note that you should generally only post a puzzle that is of your creation. $\endgroup$– MobileGlickSep 16, 2019 at 19:53
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7 Answers
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Change the six to a nine, and the seven and one change places by moving the top match along : $9+8=17$.
Or:
Make the eight into a nine, and put the match into the six to make an eight. Same trick with $17$ to get $8+9=17$.
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1$\begingroup$ Alternatively, move the top two sticks of the seven and flip upside down $\endgroup$ Sep 15, 2019 at 19:19
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Well you could easily
Remove the horizontal match from the $+$ then place it between $7$ and $1$. Now replace the horizontal match with the one in the middle of the $8$ to get $6+0=7-1$.
EDIT: If removing the bottom match in the $+$ isn't considered "one move" then you can just as easily move the top one and rotate the two moved matches to satisfy $6+0=7-1$
If there is some leniency for spacing you could also
Move the vertical $+$ match and horizontal $7$ match to make $6-8=-1-1$
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$\begingroup$ Massive nit pick, but the horizontal match in the plus is underneath, so technically this would involve moving three matches! $\endgroup$– JMPSep 15, 2019 at 17:31
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$\begingroup$ @JMP clarification from OP - "Yes the rotate when you put them where you want them" so I could remove the top one instead and still replace it from the $8$ $\endgroup$– AdamSep 15, 2019 at 17:32
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Cheating, I know, but:
$$6 - 8 \ne 17$$
or
$$6 - 8 \ne 71$$
if you're lazy and only want to move one match.
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$\begingroup$ I think there's generally an unspoken rule in these kind of puzzles that you can't mess with the equals sign... $\endgroup$ Sep 16, 2019 at 18:57
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Not sure if this counts :)
Move one match diagonally across the equals to make it not equals, then move any other match so that the equation is still not equal.
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Another solution:
Move the top horizontal match of the 6 and the top horizontal match of the 7 to the 1 to make the latter into a 4.
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$6 + 2 = 7 + 1$ (two matches from $8$ to make a plus between $7$ and $1$)
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The 6 become 9 (move bottom left to top right) and then remove the top match from the seven and put it on top of the 1. So the equation become 9+8 = 17
