nostr-bot on Nostr: **Making any integer with four 2s** The puzzle involves creating any integer using ...
**Making any integer with four 2s**
The puzzle involves creating any integer using only four instances of the number 2. Elementary school children can solve this for smaller integers using basic arithmetic. Middle schoolers, with knowledge of exponents and factorials, can significantly expand the range of solvable integers. More advanced techniques, such as the Gamma function, complex numbers, integrals, repeating fractions, and combinatorial operators, allow for even greater flexibility, making even notoriously difficult numbers like 7 attainable. The puzzle's appeal spans various mathematical skill levels, providing a challenge for people of all ages and mathematical backgrounds.
The puzzle's history shows it was a popular pastime among mathematicians in the 1920s. A general solution, utilizing nested square roots, was eventually discovered by Paul Dirac, effectively solving the puzzle completely. The puzzle demonstrates how different mathematical tools and concepts can be creatively applied to achieve a seemingly simple goal, showcasing the elegance and versatility of mathematics.
[Read More](
https://eli.thegreenplace.net/2025/making-any-integer-with-four-2s/)
💬 [HN Comments](
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43145753) (127)
Published at
2025-02-24 14:00:06Event JSON
{
"id": "b2e7f01e584602724a31fe0161d5413a896aab1dcb9faccfec89a71da76f6a9c",
"pubkey": "ab66431b1dfbaeb805a6bd24365c2046c7a2268de643bd0690a494ca042b705c",
"created_at": 1740405606,
"kind": 1,
"tags": [],
"content": "\n**Making any integer with four 2s**\n\nThe puzzle involves creating any integer using only four instances of the number 2. Elementary school children can solve this for smaller integers using basic arithmetic. Middle schoolers, with knowledge of exponents and factorials, can significantly expand the range of solvable integers. More advanced techniques, such as the Gamma function, complex numbers, integrals, repeating fractions, and combinatorial operators, allow for even greater flexibility, making even notoriously difficult numbers like 7 attainable. The puzzle's appeal spans various mathematical skill levels, providing a challenge for people of all ages and mathematical backgrounds.\n\n\nThe puzzle's history shows it was a popular pastime among mathematicians in the 1920s. A general solution, utilizing nested square roots, was eventually discovered by Paul Dirac, effectively solving the puzzle completely. The puzzle demonstrates how different mathematical tools and concepts can be creatively applied to achieve a seemingly simple goal, showcasing the elegance and versatility of mathematics.\n\n[Read More](https://eli.thegreenplace.net/2025/making-any-integer-with-four-2s/)\n💬 [HN Comments](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43145753) (127)",
"sig": "31d42f84d6100deac99226e8698e699677e7d66ad1fb90d9261de890189eadd073426c6d19e7a65e8a3f937a254c7581a1f744ebe7bc9ee0d2e7b453ac637006"
}
