SOLUTION: using the numbers 21,17,19,13,25, how can I get the answer 17? I can add, subtract, use any method, but the answer has to be 17

Algebra ->  Complex Numbers Imaginary Numbers Solvers and Lesson -> SOLUTION: using the numbers 21,17,19,13,25, how can I get the answer 17? I can add, subtract, use any method, but the answer has to be 17      Log On


   

Question 335339: using the numbers 21,17,19,13,25, how can I get the answer 17?
I can add, subtract, use any method, but the answer has to be 17
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20065) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
using the numbers 21,17,19,13,25, how can I get the answer 17?
I can add, subtract, use any method, but the answer has to be 17

Since 17 itself is in the list, it occurs to us that if we can 
get 1 using the other 4 numbers, then we can multiply that 1 by 17 
and get 17.

We look at the 13 and the 25, and we notice that 2 times 13 is 26,
and that differs from 25 by 1, and we can get 2 to multiply 13 by 
from 21-19.  

We subtract 21 - 19 and get 2
We multiply that 2 by 13 and get 26
We subtract 25 from that 26 and get 1
We multiply 17 by that 1 and get 17

{[(21 - 19)×13] - 25}×17 = 17

Edwin