Make up four: a puzzle

A colleague gave me this puzzle yesterday. It is very cool.

Rearrange the sticks on the left hand side of the equal sign, so the sum does equal 4.

| + || + ||| = 4

Note: The plus signs are also made up of sticks.

Post your answers in the comments field.
Elias.


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Comments

Anonymous said…
| + || + ||| = 4, with the '+' being also made up of 2 sticks each gives us a total of 10 sticks.

There are two solutions :)

1) (mathematical) (Left as an exercise for the student - AKA I'm still working on it.)

2) (artistic)

/|
/ |
---- = 4
|
|
5:34 am
Rambling Teacher said…
This is so creative, I had to ask my wife to explain it to me :-)
In all honesty though, I am visually challenged and very impressed by this solution. Keep working on the mathematical one.
5:36 pm
Anonymous said…
very simple elias

very simple

simply move the two sticks for ||on top iof the |||

like so

| + III = 4

am i good or what?
11:04 pm
Anonymous said…
ps

the font didnt quite give the desired effect...

but u get my drift, right?
11:07 pm
Anonymous said…
How about

| + | + | + | = 4

Am I missing something? This seems too easy.
2:01 am
Rambling Teacher said…
Well done, Mr. B.
TB, your solution would work well except that you are not allowed to move two sticks.
9:12 am
Anonymous said…
NOW you tell me, Elias

o yes, one stick movement is very easy!

just very obvious

what about this:

remove one of the matchsticks, then move one only to make a true equation.

Good luck, E & Co.
1:39 pm
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