Ray Goes Out On a Limb

From: Jody Sorensen

Four Numbers Puzzler Solutions!

You shouldn't say things like that when there are mathematicians in the audience! As you were revealing the puzzler solution last week, you said that you thought there was only one possible solution, namely 5^2+4-3. After a brief consultation with some colleagues, here are a few other solutions:

5^(square root(4))+3-2 = 26

2^5-3*(square root(4)) = 26

5^2+|3-4|=26

I love the show, and the puzzlers.

Jody Sorensen
Department of Mathematics
Augsburg College
Minneapolis, MN

Read the Puzzler — and check out Ray's answer.