4-2^2+5x3-2=11

[chemistry]

Driving me mad...trying to help my son add brackets to this equation to make it correct.

Please help!

[essayer]

It’s not something like (4-2)^2 is it?

[geeks]

Is it just add brackets or can we re-arrange as well because I am having the same issue lol!

[essayer]

Yeah (4-2)^2 + 5 x (3-2)
2^2 + 5 x 1
= 11
e: math fail! Ignore

Edited by essayer on Tuesday 9th October 20:25

[chemistry]

Thanks! No rearranging it I'm afraid, you are only allowed to add brackets...

For what it's worth, I've spent about an hour trying to figure this out, but to no avail.

[chemistry]

essayer said:

Yeah (4-2)^2 + 5 x (3-2)
2^2 + 5 x 1
= 11

Isn't this 9, not 11?

[essayer]

chemistry said:

Isn't this 9, not 11?

Now you’ve stopped me editing it
Carry on!

[SS2.]

Ignore that - wrote the numbers down wrong !

Edited by SS2. on Tuesday 9th October 20:24

[FredClogs]

Bodmas innit...

[Ross350]

SS2. said:

2 - 2 ^2 + 5 x 3 -2 = 11

2-(2^2) + (5 x 3) -2 = 11

-2 + 15 - 2 = 11

Where did the 2 come from? It's 4-2^2? Could see how to do it if it was 4+2^2+5x3-2 but stumped as it is...

[SS2.]

Ross350 said:

SS2. said:

2 - 2 ^2 + 5 x 3 -2 = 11

2-(2^2) + (5 x 3) -2 = 11

-2 + 15 - 2 = 11

Where did the 2 come from? It's 4-2^2? Could see how to do it if it was 4+2^2+5x3-2 but stumped as it is...

Yup - wrote the wrong number down at the start.

[Ross350]

SS2. said:

Ignore that - wrote the numbers down wrong !

Edited by SS2. on Tuesday 9th October 20:24

Oops, bad timing, Sorry!

[T1547]

Spent 30mins staring at this! I can get to -11 ... does that count?

4 (-2^2) + 5 x (3-2) = -11

[ben5575]

T1547 said:

Spent 30mins staring at this! I can get to -11 ... does that count?

4 (-2^2) + 5 x (3-2) = -11

I've just got the same. I'll show you my workings!

[essayer]

T1547 said:

Spent 30mins staring at this! I can get to -11 ... does that count?

4 (-2^2) + 5 x (3-2) = -11

21 isn’t it? 16 + 5

[ben5575]

-16+5 = -11

[Wiccan of Darkness]

chemistry said:

Driving me mad...trying to help my son add brackets to this equation to make it correct.

Please help!

I think this is a trick question.

First, put the brackets around the 4-2 to give (4-2)^2 + 5 x 3 -2.

Now expand the brackets... (4-2)^2

(4-2) x(4-2)

Now remove the brackets....

4 - 2 x 4 - 2

Now add brackets again....

(4-2) x 4 - 2

2x4 =8
-2 =6
now add 5 x (3-2)
which is 5 x 1

6 plus the 5 is 11.

As far as I can see, that's the only way forward. I can't see how it's cheating, as you've added the brackets around the (4-2)^2 and simply expanded the brackets, then done as the question asked and re-added the brackets as per the question.

Now off to update my eggs thread. Those buggers grow quickly....

[ben5575]

[FredClogs]

(4(-2^2)+5)x3-2=11

[FredClogs]

Oh bolloks it doesn't does it...