Only One Number

A Maths Starter of The Day

68 can be changed to 1 by using only the number 4 key, together with any of the operation keys. For example,

- 4 = 64
÷ 4 = 16
÷ 4 = 4
÷ 4 = 1
 

Find other numbers that can be changed to 1 using only the 4 key and any operation.

 

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Topics: Starter | Arithmetic | Calculator | Investigations

  • Sue Sunn, St Albans
  • Thursday, March 15, 2007
  • "76 +4 = 80
    80/ 4 = 20
    20 / 4 = 5
    5 - 4 = 1"
  • Francisco Schreiber, Rokeby School East London
  • Thursday, March 15, 2007
  • "Divided by 2 is a good starting point for foundation groups."
  • Miss Sidebotham, -
  • Saturday, March 15, 2008
  • "This starter was a good one, the children loved it."
  • Zara, Belmont Academy
  • Wednesday, March 19, 2008
  • "Really good. Got my brain thinking...
    How about... 96
    96/4=24
    24-4=20
    20-4=16
    16/4=4
    4/4=1"
  • Jordan, Admirals Junior School
  • Wednesday, March 25, 2009
  • "Sixty eight plus four plus four plus four plus four plus four plus four plus four plus four divided by four take away four take away four take away four take away four equals ONE!"
  •  

  • Teacher, UK
  • Wednesday, March 23, 2011
  • "Actually any number can be done this way,
    Take the number a
    do a x 4 = 4a
    -4
    -4
    -4... (a-1) times
    so were left with 4
    then divide by 4
    I think it's a reasonable starter so I rated it 2 but it needs a limit to the number of operations allowed."

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This starter has scored a mean of 3.1 out of 5 based on 78 votes.


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Try other key numbers

 

17 - 5 = 12

- 5 = 7

- 5 = 2

x 5 = 10

- 5 = 5

÷ 5 = 1