May 2012
Problem of the Month

Number Mazes
by Erich Driedman



Start with the number on the left.
By moving through the maze and doing any arithmetic operations that you encounter on the number, exit the maze with the result on the right.
You may pass through an operation several times, but you cannot make a U-turn.
The results of all operations will be positive whole numbers.
Each maze has several solutions, but they all have one unique shortest solution.
In the example, the solution would be written as 2 / 2 x 3 = 3.

You must solve all five mazes to get credit!



Click here for a printable version


Solution to the Problem:

#1     9 + 7 / 2 + 7 - 5 = 10
#2     38 / 2 + 7 / 2 x 3 = 39
#3     42 / 2 - 5 x 3 - 5 = 43
#4     14 / 2 - 5 x 3 - 5 x 3 + 7 / 2 x 3 = 15
#5     40 / 2 x 3 - 5 + 7 / 2 - 5 x 3 / 2 + 7 - 5 = 41





Correctly solved by:

1. Alp Aribal Istanbul, Turkey
2. Cassie Warren Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
3. Kaylor Dolezal Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
4. Isaac Kampman ----------
5. Katryna Flugel Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
6. Peyton Madsen Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
7. Ryliann Wolfley Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming


Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher