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.
111 questions
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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?
52
votes
11
answers
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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 ...
39
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5
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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.
39
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7
answers
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9-5=5? Matchstick problem
Move one matchstick to make an equality.
Question made by me (Is this too easy?)
32
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5
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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 ...
31
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7
answers
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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).
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26
answers
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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.
29
votes
4
answers
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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, ...
28
votes
7
answers
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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
26
votes
18
answers
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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 ...
22
votes
3
answers
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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 ...
18
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3
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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 ...
18
votes
1
answer
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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.
17
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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 ...
15
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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 ...
15
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4
answers
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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 ...
15
votes
1
answer
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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 ...
15
votes
1
answer
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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 ...
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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 ...
13
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10
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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'...
13
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11
answers
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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 ...
13
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10
answers
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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 ...
13
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2
answers
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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:
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15
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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
12
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11
answers
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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.
12
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11
answers
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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 ...
12
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14
answers
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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 ...
12
votes
2
answers
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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 ...
11
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13
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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 ...
11
votes
11
answers
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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 ...
11
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4
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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.
11
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6
answers
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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 ...
11
votes
1
answer
903
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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 ...
11
votes
1
answer
591
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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 ...
10
votes
6
answers
5k
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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 ...
10
votes
5
answers
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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 ...
10
votes
1
answer
568
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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:
...
9
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7
answers
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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?
9
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11
answers
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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.
...
9
votes
5
answers
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Move just 2 matchsticks to make three equally sized triangles
There are 9 equally sized matchsticks, move 2 to make 3 equal triangles
9
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2
answers
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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?
9
votes
3
answers
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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. ...
9
votes
1
answer
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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.
8
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13
answers
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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 ...
8
votes
7
answers
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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
8
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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 ...
8
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7
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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, ...
8
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3
answers
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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.
8
votes
1
answer
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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 <...
8
votes
1
answer
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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 ...