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Question from Jacqui, a parent:

I have no idea how to help my son with the following question:

Write a number sentence. Use every digit once, 7, 4, 3, 6, 5,10. Insert math symbols +, - , *,/ and end up with the number 3. Use parentheses if necessary.

Many thanks!

Jacqui

Jacqui,

I think you just need to play with the numbers.

How about

(6 × 5) - (10 × 3) + (7 - 4) or
[6 - [(10 + 5)/3] ] × (7 - 4)?

Penny

 

Let's start with something simpler:
a) Insert a math symbol between 0 and 3 to end up with 3.
b) Insert math symbols in 7, 3, 10 to end up with 0.
c) Insert math symbols in 4, 5, 6 to end up with 3.
d) Put it all together.

Actually if you were to do the proble from the start 7, 4, 3, 6, 5,10,
you'd try to break up the set 7, 4, 3, 6, 5,10 in smaller ``useful''
chunks as in b), c) above. It is like a jigsaw puzzle: sometimes they fit
the way you want, and sometimes they don't.

Claude

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