Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Mathematics/2017 October 25

= October 25 =

Backsolving.
Given the numbers 5 5 6 12 come up with the answer of 24 using BODMAS. Each number can be used once only. Numbers can be used in any sequence. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.13.246.169 (talk) 16:09, 25 October 2017 (UTC)
 * $$(5+5-6)!$$. 68.0.147.114 (talk) 07:28, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * Based on BODMAS I guess factorial is not allowed. PrimeHunter (talk) 09:52, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * I don't think it's possible using multiplication, division, addition and subtraction. 68.0.147.114 (talk) 22:00, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * This is essentially the numbers game on countdown (game show) - the closest that a brute force online solver can get is 25 or 23, which suggests it's impossible. Edited because apparently using the URL with the parameters in already gives a 403 error MChesterMC (talk) 08:52, 27 October 2017 (UTC)