3, 3, 8, 8 has a solution
Edit: A commenter below found a real answer. I was really wrong this time. Sorry. I guess I should delete my embarassing remarks, but better to let them stand as a reminder to me.
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Further edit: My error now seems obvious. My initial approach assumed that the first step would be to combine two numbers (this was correct) leaving a new 24 puzzle with 3 numbers. Good. But then I tried all ways to combine 3 and 3, then 8 and 8, then 3 and 8. I was ok with 3 and 3 and 8 and 8, but when I looked at 3 and 8 I excluded 8/3. Why? I wasn't looking for a fraction on the way to a whole number answer. Sloppy.
Thanks to Eric C for correcting me (below)
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K, since I wrote Monday that in the game of 24 {3,3,8,8} has no solution, I have seen a surge (as much of a surge as you might see if you had a blog with 1 – 2 dozen search engine hits per day) in searches related to this puzzle.
There is a solution. It is illegal. It involves using a decimal, and a line over a decimal. .8 with a bar over the 8…
_
.8
Maybe that is what it looks like. Anyway, 3*[8 / (.8-bar)] – 3 = 24.
.8-bar = 8/9.
8 divided by 8/9 = 9
9*3 = 27
and 27 – 3 = 24
It's illegal. Can't be done legally. You can stop looking now.
I found this solution posted on another site.
8 / (3 – 8/3)
your so cool and great!
i have a lot of time to this prob..
goodluck..
This is the Answer 8 /3 = 2.666666666666667
2.666666666666667 – 3 = .3333333333333333
.3333333333333333 / 8 = 24
Answer Solve
This is Sooooo Easy why do people have trouble with this
Tip* be careful what calculator
By Nylegend 516
Switch the #s
This is the Answer 8 /3 = 2.666666666666667
3 – 2.666666666666667 = .3333333333333333
8 / .3333333333333333 = 24
Answer Solve
This is Sooooo Easy why do people have trouble with this
Tip* be careful what calculator
By Nylegend 516
My young 11 year old nephew came up with the following solution.
24 = the square root of 8 times 8 multiplied by the square root of 3 times 3
Switch the #s
This is the Answer 8 /3 = 2.666666666666667
3 – 2.666666666666667 = .3333333333333333
8 / .3333333333333333 = 24
Answer Solve
This is Sooooo Easy why do people have trouble with this
Tip* be careful what calculator
By Nylegend 516
Switch the #s
This is the Answer 8 /3 = 2.666666666666667
3 – 2.666666666666667 = .3333333333333333
8 / .3333333333333333 = 24
Answer Solve
This is Sooooo Easy why do people have trouble with this
Tip* be careful what calculator
By Nylegend 516
that the Correct answer
the solution is 8/3-(8/3) =24
I have no idea what those mean but on the sheet of paper
It says that you are only allowed to use plus,multiply,divide and take away
Squareroot of 8 *Squareroot of 8*Squareroot of 3*Squareroot of 3 = 24
By R.Antony Joyston Fernando