All numbers with only one number

You want to express numbers with only one number and certain operations. As an example, let us say you have addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division (and you are allowed to use parenthesis). And you only have five numbers 2 available. You can express the numbers 1 to 10 in the following way:

Your task is to do the same, but instead of number 2, use number 5, i.e. express numbers 1 to 10 with exactly five numbers 5 and combining them with four allowed operations: addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division. You are also allowed to use parentheses.

[b]BONUS:[/b] Can you do it also for the number 23?

The best solution gets a token of appreciation...

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

SW-User

1 = 5-(5*5-5)/5
2 = (5+5+5-5)/5
3 = (5*5+5)/(5+5)
4 = (5+5+5+5)/5
5 = 5+5+5-5-5
6 = 5+5-5+5/5
7 = (5*5+5+5)/5
8 = 5+5-(5+5)/5
9 = 5+(5*5-5)/5
10 = 5*5-(5+5+5)

23 = 5*5-(5+5)/5

sumojumo · 36-40, M

@SW-User unfortunately just a little bit later than the winner, but thank you very much for playing, you got some number a bit different than the other solution.👍️