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        riddles >> easy >> Roman Numerals
        
(Message started by: SgtAcid on Dec 11^th, 2002, 3:34pm)

Title: Roman Numerals
Post by SgtAcid on Dec 11^th, 2002, 3:34pm

I heard this one over the radio, its pretty interesting.

In the least amount of moves, make this Roman numeral equation be equal.

I - X = XI

Title: Re: Roman Numerals
Post by Garzahd on Dec 11^th, 2002, 4:01pm

What's the definition of a "move"? Can we move a character, symbol, or what?

I've seen matchstick variants of this too; is this one?

Title: Re: Roman Numerals
Post by SgtAcid on Dec 11^th, 2002, 4:55pm

A move is exactly what you think it is. Changing something that is there, adding something that isn't there, moving a number from one spot to another.

I know the matchstick riddles you are talking about, it is not a variant.

Title: Re: Roman Numerals
Post by lukes new shoes on Dec 11^th, 2002, 10:46pm

swap the 2 numerals on the left hand side of the equation with each other, do the same to the 2 numerals on the right side.

Title: Re: Roman Numerals
Post by SgtAcid on Dec 12^th, 2002, 4:53am

You can do it in less moves than that.

Title: Re: Roman Numerals
Post by SWF on Dec 12^th, 2002, 6:34am

Zero moves if you look at it upside down:

IX = X - I

Or does that count as a move since the viewer must move?

For one move of a character, put the X on the right of = to the left:

XI - X = I

Title: Re: Roman Numerals
Post by James Fingas on Dec 12^th, 2002, 8:38am

Maybe this isn't what you were hoping for:

Change '-' to '+'. Somehow I don't get that "wow, cool" feeling.

Title: Re: Roman Numerals
Post by SgtAcid on Dec 12^th, 2002, 10:54am

James Fingas thats what most people say, but that would count as one move. And you are able to do it in less moves than one, SWF got the answer, least amount of moves as possible, and thats zero. The equation was already correct you just had to look at it in the correct way.