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Questions tagged [matches]

A puzzle from 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional geometry centered around matchsticks, often involving moving, adding, or removing some to achieve some defined goal.

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57 votes
24 answers
14k views

What is the largest number you can create with 0000 by moving only two sticks?

Here's what I'm saying Moving 2 sticks, what is the largest number that you can create?
bleh's user avatar
  • 3,655
52 votes
11 answers
11k views

Turning a goat?

This is a goat made up of 5 sticks. You have to move (change position) any one stick of them such that its head turns to the right side (above the right leg). Notice currently its head is on the left ...
prog_SAHIL's user avatar
  • 5,363
39 votes
5 answers
91k views

Make a square with matchsticks!

After the previous mat(c)h-stick puzzle, this one is relatively old. Move only one matchstick to make a square.
ABcDexter's user avatar
  • 7,292
39 votes
7 answers
8k views

9-5=5? Matchstick problem

Move one matchstick to make an equality. Question made by me (Is this too easy?)
Culver Kwan's user avatar
  • 6,334
32 votes
5 answers
3k views

An animal out of matchsticks

Ok, I widely failed my two latest matchsticks puzzles, so here's another attempt, part of the 22nd Fortnightly Topic Challenge. As you can see, you have in front of you eleven matchsticks forming the ...
IAmInPLS's user avatar
  • 11.5k
31 votes
7 answers
7k views

Four matchsticks puzzle

Take 4 matchsticks and set them out in this pattern: VII In mathematics this is 7 in Roman numerals. Now move just a single matchstick and the answer should be 1 (one).
Jamal Senjaya's user avatar
30 votes
26 answers
27k views

Make 37+32=55 correct by moving one match

Move $1$ match and make this correct. Rules: (added 8/23/2018 based on clarifications in comments) You can't break the match. You can't make an inequality sign, just change numbers and/or operators.
underds's user avatar
  • 381
29 votes
4 answers
5k views

Billion Matchsticks

A little twist on the "move the matchsticks" puzzle. I placed a bunch of matchsticks on my kitchen table and formed a number with them (6,111,100). I am asking, how can you move just two matchsticks, ...
Puzzle Prime's user avatar
  • 6,964
28 votes
7 answers
6k views

Unexpectedly Difficult Matchstick Problem

The words say: 听说只有智商高达200的人才有办法打出来 (only people with 200 iq can solve this). 只移动1根火柴让算式成立 (move only one match to satisfy the equation) note: it is not my puzzle and i do not know the solution
Kyle He's user avatar
  • 449
26 votes
18 answers
16k views

Don't settle for a billion [duplicate]

While Artur is willing to settle for a billion, I'd like a much bigger return on my two matchstick investment. Moving only two matchsticks, what is the largest number that can be created from the ...
Adam Davis's user avatar
  • 1,587
22 votes
3 answers
1k views

Complex Matchstick puzzle

This is my toughest invention so far, not sure if it's already been done but here it goes. Move a single stick to obtain a correct equality. (To be clear: the stick needs to be moved and placed down ...
Bogdan Alexandru's user avatar
18 votes
3 answers
2k views

A cinematic masterpiece in matchsticks

Polanski's magnificent Chinatown (my all-time fourth favourite film) was produced among numerous other movies by Robert Evans, the second anniversary of whose death is today1. What better excuse for a ...
Anon's user avatar
  • 5,480
18 votes
1 answer
762 views

Which number is next? [closed]

Which number will be in the next Box? *Just do not triffle that the numbers are in lighting match format.
Alper91's user avatar
  • 535
17 votes
6 answers
2k views

180 degree rotation matchstick equality

Several matchstick digits are still digits when rotated by 180 degrees: Note that 2 is rotated to 2. Thus, we can make a matchstick arithmetic expression which is valid when rotated 180 degrees. For ...
P.-S. Park's user avatar
  • 4,219
15 votes
8 answers
3k views

Matchstick Puzzles

Puzzle #1: There is a matchstick: | Add 2 more matchsticks to make the number, 11. Puzzle #2: There is a palace made out of 11 matchsticks: Move 2 matchsticks to make 11 squares. Puzzle #3: There are ...
ThyrsoidMouse73's user avatar
15 votes
4 answers
3k views

How many matchsticks need to be removed so there are no equilateral triangles?

The puzzle is as follows [with minor copy edits for grammar]: By only using matchsticks of equal length a set of equilateral triangles has been built as indicated in the figure from below. With that ...
Chris Steinbeck Bell's user avatar
15 votes
1 answer
2k views

Add 3 matches to make 6 squares

This puzzle appeared at the UQ Mobile store at Shibuya Scramble Square: マッチ棒でできた六角形にマッチ棒を 3本追加して正方形を6つ作りなさい Add 3 matches to this (a regular hexagon made out of 6 matches) to produce 6 squares. No ...
Parcly Taxel's user avatar
  • 8,500
15 votes
1 answer
2k views

Touching matchsticks with compass and straightedge

The question Touching Matchsticks asked for the smallest matchstick graph where every node is connected to four distinct edges. The Harborth Graph is the smallest such, with 104 edges connecting 52 ...
supercat's user avatar
  • 2,235
14 votes
3 answers
2k views

Touching Matchsticks

You are asked to place matchsticks on a flat surface such that each matchstick end meets three others, and no matches cross. It is easy to achieve this for patterns that extend indefintely: The ...
Johannes's user avatar
  • 4,410
13 votes
10 answers
3k views

A simple Matchstick puzzle [closed]

Here is a simple matchstick puzzle. Some creative thinking may be needed. Make the equation below correct by moving only one matchstick. The use of > or < or not equal to is not allowed. You can'...
DrD's user avatar
  • 39.5k
13 votes
11 answers
3k views

Move exactly two matches to make the two sides equal

Use some creative thinking to make the equation below correct. You must move 2 matches. You cannot alter/modify the = sign. You cannot remove any matches or put one over another match (to make 2 ...
RogerA's user avatar
  • 7,497
13 votes
10 answers
4k views

Another simple matchstick puzzle

Seems like there's been lots of matchstick puzzles lately, so here's my take on it Move one matchstick to make the equality right. EDIT: There are a lot of creative answers, some good, and some ...
stacksfiller's user avatar
  • 10.7k
13 votes
2 answers
727 views

You don't want to sell me matchsticks

Fix the image before completing the sequence. What do I want you to draw your attention to? 103, 91, 79, 0, x, x, 28, x, x, x, 0, 78, x, x, x, x, x, x, 5 Hints:
Lukas Rotter's user avatar
  • 13.6k
12 votes
15 answers
4k views

Turn 1111 into zero [closed]

Draw exactly two non-touching straight lines to turn 1111 (as shown below) into zero. Note: A minus sign is one line
RogerA's user avatar
  • 7,497
12 votes
11 answers
14k views

Move only 2 matchsticks to find the equality

Just move two matchsticks to find the equality in the equation below: Note: There are two reasonable answers.
Oray's user avatar
  • 30.5k
12 votes
11 answers
3k views

Another Matchstick (cotton swab) puzzle

Here is another Matchstick puzzle. May be you have seen it. I have used Cotton Swabs in my picture below. I have used a digital display. ORIGINAL: 23 x 1 = 91 By moving THREE or less swabs make ...
DrD's user avatar
  • 39.5k
12 votes
14 answers
4k views

Yet another matchstick puzzle

Inspired by this post, here there is my attempt at a matches' puzzle. The expression 1 = 850 - 9 - 6 is obviously wrong: move exactly three matches to obtain a correct expression. Rules are: This ...
mau's user avatar
  • 2,095
12 votes
2 answers
596 views

What was Matt's matchstick puzzle?

Something rather funny happened at our Puzzlers' meet the other day. "Oh hey buddy, can you hand me exactly 18 matchsticks? I wanna show you this new matchstick puzzle I came up with." Matt ...
Ankoganit's user avatar
  • 20.3k
11 votes
13 answers
5k views

A Matchstick puzzle with a little twist

Here is a matchstick puzzle with TWO (possibly more) solutions. There are two types of matchsticks. 1 Short (eight and = sign) Total 9 2 Long ( All ones) Total 4 Please move 3 matchsticks and ...
DrD's user avatar
  • 39.5k
11 votes
11 answers
12k views

Matchstick Puzzle from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

Here's a puzzle from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Part 6: Stone Ocean. Let me jojog your memory, it's from chapter 673. Any takers? Edit: Since there was an official answer found, I have marked that one ...
Jack Pan's user avatar
  • 667
11 votes
4 answers
4k views

Ummm what day was it, a matchstick puzzle

XXIII ------- = II VII All you need to do is move one matchstick from the roman numerals to make the equation true.
ABcDexter's user avatar
  • 7,292
11 votes
6 answers
1k views

Matchstick Puzzle 4971 [closed]

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 ...
VedantBang's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
903 views

Odd solutions are in 3d

This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #11: Now in 3D. You are given a collection of sticks which are straight lines of length 1. Two such sticks can be attached to each other at their end ...
quarague's user avatar
  • 2,264
11 votes
1 answer
591 views

Three sticks, three squares

There are 5 squares in this puzzle as shown in picture we have to pick only three match sticks resulting formation of exactly 3 squares. which numbers of sticks should be removed from the formation ...
Ihtisham Ali Farooq's user avatar
10 votes
6 answers
5k views

Correct the equation by moving $1$ match stick [duplicate]

Since $23$ and $7$ both are primes, so I am try to make $23$ to $14$ by moving only one match stick. But I am unable to do this. Any hints will be appreciated. Here note that the line divided by ...
SAHEB PAL's user avatar
  • 227
10 votes
5 answers
2k views

Minimize 1×3 tiles on a 5×5 table to block any more 1×3 tiles

What is the minimum number of 1×3 tiles that can be put on a 5×5 table so that no more 1×3 tiles can be put on it? Borders of a tiles are parallel to sides of the table. It is 5 but I can not prove ...
nonuser's user avatar
  • 890
10 votes
1 answer
568 views

Expected number of squares in a 20x10 grid with 1% chance of removing each edge

Suppose I make a 20x10 grid out of match sticks, using 21 columns of 10 match sticks and 11 rows of 20 match sticks: ...
Craig Gidney's user avatar
9 votes
7 answers
2k views

Matchstick rearrangement: Zero to Hero

Below is an expression that has a value of 0. How can you move only three matchsticks for the resulting value to be 49?
risky mysteries's user avatar
9 votes
11 answers
1k views

Back to Matchsticks (cotton swabs)

A Matchstick puzzle with a twist. Make the following equation right by moving 3 or less cotton swabs. CX = LIII + V It is in Roman Numerals. Final equation must be in Roman Numerals. ...
DrD's user avatar
  • 39.5k
9 votes
5 answers
801 views

Move just 2 matchsticks to make three equally sized triangles

There are 9 equally sized matchsticks, move 2 to make 3 equal triangles
row666's user avatar
  • 107
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Matchstick Squares

Twenty-four matchsticks are used to create a 3 x 3 grid. Can you remove eight matchsticks from the configuration so that you are left with two squares that do not touch each other?
user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
896 views

Find the next number in this sequence?

Well I have tried a few moves but don't get anywhere! The second number is the first by removing the bottom left stick. Also the fourth is the third by moving also the bottom left stick to the right. ...
Samuel's user avatar
  • 193
9 votes
1 answer
395 views

Matchstick Riddle

Disclaimer: This is a matchstick riddle, not puzzle. Oh, and everything is a clue. Only enter an answer if: it is original. Then, you can release the answer you think it is.
Akshaya Gunnam's user avatar
8 votes
13 answers
4k views

Yet another matchstick puzzle: 14 = 5 [closed]

Is the expression below correct? No. But I never take no for an answer. Your task is to make the expression true by moving exactly two matchsticks. As usual, inequalities are not allowed. So is ...
Florian F's user avatar
  • 31.4k
8 votes
7 answers
6k views

6+8=71 move two matches

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
Ryan Bush's user avatar
8 votes
6 answers
5k views

Move a single match to make this expression true

Move a single match to make the following expression true: So far I've found 6 valid solutions, can you find all 6? (or more!) Edit: Lots of great, creative answers! All 6 I found are represented ...
BradC's user avatar
  • 199
8 votes
7 answers
3k views

Matchstick puzzle with roman numerals

I got a puzzle from a book that asks to move one matchstick to get a valid equation. My "solutions" feels like cheating... Does anyone have a good idea? The original equation, layed out with matches, ...
Marc's user avatar
  • 183
8 votes
3 answers
34k views

Out of Glass Puzzle (MatchStick Puzzle)

The object is to move 2 matches to get the bluebottle to fly outside the glass. At the finish, the glass may be turned in any direction, but it must be exactly the same shape as before.
Vivek Pratap Singh's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
444 views

Matchstick puzzle with DOTS (points)

Here is a Matchstick equation using Matchsticks as well as Points (dots). Matchsticks and dots can be moved. By moving only 1 Dot and 1 Matchstick make the equation equal. No inequality or > or <...
DrD's user avatar
  • 39.5k
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Matchsticks for lengths

You have been invited to an $n$-dimensional universe, where $n$ is an integer greater than $1$. Here, matchsticks are idealised lines of unit length, and they can pass through each other. They want ...
Element118's user avatar
  • 1,610