Simple Looking Maths Puzzle ......

[Gizmonster]

Your task is to make 24 using the numbers 3, 3, 8 and 8.

You must use all 4 numbers.

You can only use the following operations:
+ - / x ( )
You can use the operations more than once if needed and you do not need to use them all.

It's a bit harder than it looks :)

[Jackdaw33]

3 + 3 - 8\8 = 24. Well that's what Diane Abbot told me!

[Gizmonster]

.... and who am I to argue with someone as "intelligent" as her lol :P

[JJ109]

It is hard. I can do it if ou can use factorials, but will look again later when I can hopefully refocus.
In the meantime
3! x (3 + 8/8) = 24
FYI 3! = 3 x 2 x1 = 6

[elliemay1]

3-(8 divided by 3)=1/3

then the other 8 divided by 1/3=24

[Gizmonster]

No factorials allowed :(

ellie has it :)

Just to clarify:

8/(3 - 8/3) = 24

[JJ109]

excellent elliemay

8/(3 - (8/3))

[elliemay1]

Thanks Giz and jj, knew it had to involve fractions as nothing else worked!

[Jackdaw33]

You'll have to run that one past Ms Abbott☺☺☺

[Buenchico]

Hmmm.

I've got a degree in maths, I've taught it to A-level and I've encountered this problem many times before - but I still couldn't remember how to do it!

So what do I blame? Senility or alcohol? (Hic!)

[Jackdaw33]

A combination of both, Chico, just like me.

[elliemay1]

I've got a degree in Maths too but hadn't seen this one before

[Gizmonster]

Hmmm .... that might take a while - trying to explain the solution to Ms Abbott !!!!

[Gizmonster]

I stumbled across this whilst on youtube and was determined to solve it.
My A level in maths didn't really help - I'll admit I couldn't solve it - I had to watch the solution .... grrrr lol :(

[Jackdaw33]

The annoying thing is that if the solution was 25 it is very simple.

[Gizmonster]

Yea - I managed to get 22, 23 and 25; but not 24.
Although I'm now trying to work out how I got 23 - maybe I imagined it lol :P

[JJ109]

3(8-3) + 8

[Gizmonster]

Cheers - I've been sat here for the last 5 minutes trying to work out if and how I got 23 .... I'll sleep tonight now :)

[elliemay1]

I always used the 24 Game for Mental Maths in school but it didn't involve fractions. It was a brilliant tool and the chn loved it.