RAY: So, here it is.
TOM: Yeah.
RAY: We're going to make a fraction. The numbers in this fraction are going to be represented by Roman numerals, and the numerator of the fraction is the Roman numeral 23, which is X-X-1-1-1. Right?
TOM: Or I-I-I.
RAY: I-I-I. And you could, of course, imagine the X-X-I-I-I being made of, what? matchsticks.
TOM: I can imagine that.
RAY: So you've got that on top, that's the numerator; then you take a bunch of matchsticks and make the divisor line, OK? And then the denominator is the Roman numeral 7, which is V-I-I.
TOM: Mm-hmm.
RAY: OK? Then you take two more matchsticks and you make an equals sign, and on the other side of the equation you put two, or I-I -- captain!
TOM: Aye-aye, sir.
RAY: So, you're ready for this? You've got Roman numeral 23 over Roman numeral 7 equals Roman numeral 2. Now, it was obvious to most of our staff that this equation is wrong.
TOM: Oh, really? It took Dougie a while to fall in with the rest.
RAY: Yeah, well, he's always been difficult. So, your challenge was to move one matchstick and make the equation correct. Now, you can't put a matchstick over the equals sign to make it an unequals sign. My brother tried that, and I broke his matchsticks. You also can't take one stick off of an X and leave behind a slanted line because that means nothing. You have to stick to the true spirit of the thing.
TOM: Mm-hmm. Yeah!
RAY: OK? So, how can you move one matchstick to make the equation correct? Now, we're going to get a bunch of people to go, "Aw, man, this is bogus!" But...tough!
TOM: Well, that's what Puzzlers are all about! If the answer was simple and straight forward, it wouldn't be a puzzlement, now would it?
RAY: No, it would be a third-grade math problem.
TOM: It would be a third-grade math problem, exactly! These are brain-stretchers, man! I mean, so people who are going to complain: we don't want to hear it!
RAY: Exactly!
TOM: It's the very nature of puzzlement.
RAY: And I think the solution is elegant. You are going to take one away from the numerator.
TOM: Yeah, so, instead of saying 23, it's going to be 22.
RAY: And now you have 22 over 7, and with that one matchstick that you removed, a number should jump into your head.
TOM: Yes!
RAY: Because 22 over 7 equals pi, and you're going to put that matchstick that you've removed from the numerator atop the 2 on the right side of the equation, and --
TOM: Oh, man!
RAY: Although it isn't quite accurate, you're going to make the symbol for pi, thus making the equation correct, and I think it's pretty --
TOM: I mean, everyone has used that approximation. I use it all the time in my calculations!
RAY: Yes.
TOM: I don't like to write out 3.14159... and all those other digits. I just use 22 sevenths, and I'm sure everyone else does too, whether they'll admit it or not.
RAY: Who's our winner this week?
TOM: Shut up. The winner is Laura Leonard from Charleston, South Carolina.
[ Car Talk Puzzler ]
