Incredibly difficult matchstick puzzle 

Move one matchstick so it becomes I = I V I which is just True = True or True in propositional calculus

If the decimal solution is valid, I can solve it without moving any match. The leftside is base 5 and the right side is roman numaral.

Me, an intellectual: Move the rightmost matchstick over the =, so it becomes ≠

Me. An intellectual: Step 1: use 💯 of ur brain 🧠 Step 2: put any stick above "one" in the question to cancel it away. Step 3: Now you arent limited to just one move. Step 4: Problem?

Just move one matchstick to the top of the II so it turns into pi, every engineer knows that pi equals 5 Edit: It's a joke for those of you who didn't understand. Engineers will turn pi into 5 because it's safer for construction based works and etc. You don't really need to be 100% precise. Better safe than sorry.

Me: Changes the = into a

Move the rightmost matchstick between the two match sticks so it turns into H = 5 so that it is just saying the variable H is equal to 5.

I appreciate that’s it’s worded “make the two sides equal” instead of “make the statement true” so that you can’t cheese it with the does not equal sign, which is always the easiest solution in puzzles like these.

Here is my solution: Move the 'I' matchstick from the 'VI' on the right hand side to in-between the two 'I' matchsticks on the left hand side, making it upside-down. Now, the right hand side reads 5 in Roman Numerals (V), while the left-hand side reads 5 in binary (101, if you consider an upright matchstick to represent '1' and an upside-down one to represent '0').

"Move one matchstick" I move a match stick in the V off of the table to make 2=2.

Move the matchstick from V to the center, so it would look like this: I I ≡ \ I Or "2 is logically identical to 2"

Just take one stick from the V and throw it away, and there you have 2 = 2

There are loopholes in the rules. 11 = 71: Base 70 and Base 10 respectively A = 11: Variables, flipped A = 2: Variables, Roman Numerals, flipped T = 6: Variables, Roman Numerals 1 = 01 V = V × 1: Variables and implied multiplication

I figured out the decimal = roman numerals solution but I like the square root solution better. Thanks for sharing.

Take the left matchstick on the right side and chuck it. You’ll end up with II=II and a random matchstick far away

|| ≡ || (two is equivalent to two, tribar ≡ is an actual symbol for those who don't know)

If it weren't for the condition on the top, I would've moved the stick on the farthest right and placed it diagonal over the equal sign. Then it would say that 2 is *NOT* equal to 5!

you could use the vertical matchstick on the RHS and cross the equals to sign so then it will be: II is not equal to V

remove 1 of the match sticks forming the "v", and you would get 11= 11, but with a slanted 1 on the rhs.

I found two other ways. You can move one of the match sticks from the two/eleven to make a not equal sign: I ≠ V I Or you could move the top of the equal sign so it becomes: I I < V I (I now see it says make the two sides equal so this wouldnt work)

Everytime I see this kind of puzzle the first answer I find is ro turn " = " to " ≠ "

Move the matchsticks so II = IV Then LHS is ternary (base 3 number system), and RHS is Roman numerals. Both sides equal 4

I moved the first matchstick quickly over the matchbox’s red phosphorus striking surface, then used it to light the two touching matchsticks forming a V, thereby leaving 1 = 1.

Move the one all the way to the right on top the other side to form an H. Now you have H = 5, and if the variable H is set equal to 5, then surely the two sides are now equal

You just forgot one method: Move any one matchstick from ll and light it up then you take the same matchstick to burn 2 matchsticks at the left side and you are done 1=1 😎

If you already make no rules, just remove one of the V sticks then so its II = II. You didnt say the moved stick has to be part of the new equal

Me: Just yeet the first matchstick of 6

You can take one of the matches from the left to turn V into a triangle, which can represent 0. You'll then have 1=01

Move one of the matchsticks from the “V” to form II ≡ II. One of the “I” on the RHS will be wonky, but we are being “creative” to solve this soooo..

Make it II

I was thinking of taking a matchstick from the equal sign to make the far left match into a V. So in the end, it would be V I - V I. Although there is no equal sign, both sides are still technically equal in value

Excellent video. Thank you. I have 6 solutions, so far. One of them has infinite interpretations ;): S1) 1=sqrt(1) took me ten minutes S2) 11=XI came up next day in the shower S3) Not mine: I really liked the I = I V I solution by @Pentax33, I have forgotten about the "or" symbol S4) I saw II (base 5) = VI in a comment by @Red, but you have to move a match, so I thought: II (base 3)= IV (roman) but it was already in a comment by @SamLyndonShow S5) Infinite answer based on changing the base: 11(base 7xB)=71(base B) - I haven't seen this in the comments. Examples: 11(base 70)=71(base 10) or 11(base 112)=71(base 16) S6) The gradient operator: I=∇I (if I is the function (e^x, e^y,...)), I'm sure this is not right, because the function should be an scalar, but I'm sure that someone smarter than me could find a function I that satisfies the condition. :)

Several other solutions: 1. Move one of the sticks making the V to form II = \II, or II = III, which works as in binary II = 3 and in tally marks III = 3. 2. Move the rightmost stick away, so there are 2 sticks on the left and right.

The 11 = XI solution is a bit "too creative" to my taste... heheh

You could move a matchstick to cross out the equal sign so it becomes a “not equal” symbol. I ≠ VI

Put one of the equals on the matchstick and move it to the start forming "VI - VI"

Playing on the words, "make the two sides equal," implies that the solution at the end will be in balance. Thus, you can take one of the toothpicks from the equal sign and create a roman IV (or VI) on the left. If you create the IV, it would be perfectly symmetrical. If you create the VI, the two sides are equal with no need to worry about the equals symbol.

I just said move one of the stems of V completely off the puzzle and it becomes II = II (written sloppily)

Well it never said you can’t move that match stick out of the equation so you can just remove one of the match sticks in V and do 2=2 or II=II

My solution: take one matchstick from the right side totally out of the picture. :)

Would it work by making it: N = V as "The value N is equal to Five in Roman"?

II ≡ V (It doesn't specify the modulo base, so you can make it 1)

Or you can move one from either side to the equals sign and put it digonaly so it’s doesn’t not equal

Ok so that way you can put one stick from equal sign to left side and make 4 out of it using rearrangement, so 4-4 which is 0 and both becomes the same... II = VI VI - VI = 0

You can also do I ≠ VI by moving a match from the left to make an unequal sign

Me being the genius head 😏🔥 : Take anyone matchstick as u wish and just cross the equal symbol... Which makes LHS ≠ RHS and is true indeed 🤣😂 But then realises that both sides should be equal..

Me, an intrelectual: Take the bottom matchstick from the = and make a V out of the most left matchstick so you get 6-6.

If you move one of the matchsticks on the right side to under the equals sign, you'd get II ≡ II Which means that 2 has the same identity as 2. Or 11 has the same identity as 11, if you're reading decimal

Wow, this is so clever! I thought of changing around the = symbol to turn it into a < symbol (So it would be _six is more then two),_ or _''not equal''_ symbol, but turning the VI Into a square root of one is so much smarter, one of the smartest things I have ever seen!

me: removes the left matchstick on the right hand side so its II = II

Snap the first matchstick. Make it a v. vI = VI Move the right most matchstick to the bottom of the V to form a Y. II = Y

Just move the other I on top of the equal sign so then it Would be I ≠ VI

Move one of the matchsticks to turn the equals sign to a not equal sign

You could take one of the match sticks on the left and move it on top of the other one to make it into a T. That way it makes it the variable T is equal to VI, T = VI

WOW there are even two ways

Oh, I thought of moving one of the equal matchsticks to make a v with the first match, making the two sides equal as in symmetrical

It's really neat having multiple correct solutions to a simple puzzle like this

I was thinking about II != V (just put the matchstick above the igual sign)

If you move one of the matchsticks in VI and add it below the equal. It becomes: II ≡ II (this sign ≡ means equivalence)

I'd solve it like this: on the right side squish the v into a really fat I, in this way the equation is TECHNICALLY 2=2

Pick up one match stick from the right hand side, break it in half and replace each half either side of the = and you end up with 2.5 on each side :)

The equals symbol is two lines like _____ _____ In math, there is an another symbol with an essentially identical (get it?) meaning. It is three lines. Move the left or right side of the V over the equals. | | _____ \ | | | _____ \ | | | _____ \ | Assume the space and slant are both handwriting errors.

Or, or, Stay with me : I ≠ V

2

You could do II ≥II which is technically correct.

Impressive puzzle! Took me time to figure it out!

Me: I I = VI. I I ≠ V

You didn’t have to make it nerdy, You chose to make it nerdy.

3-5 whitout anwser ^^ XD

You can break fist stick on the left side adn get vI = VI I don't know is this solution true

Another way to solve: II = VI Move one of the sticks from the = to the left side like this: III - VI Now the amount of matches on each side is equal.

There's another solution; Just move one of the single matchsticks from either side of the equation and lay it diagonally across the 'equals' sign to form 'does not equal'.

here's basically what he said: VI COULD = square root of 1 if you just write the "I" differently 11 COULD = XI if we were to pretend the "II" is actually "11" Actual solution that he didn't say: Move the rightmost stick through the equals sign to cancel out, because II does not equal V, so the equation would be true at that point

Another way to solve it is to move the first match to be diagonally aligned on the equals, that means 1 does not equal to 6

Move one match stick across the match stick box thingy to light it and burn it Move one matchstick so hard that it breaks, and put both piecies to both sides, 2 and a half matchstick is equal to 2 and a half matchstick

Move the last matchstick to the left side, and put it slanted between the two matchsticks to form an 'N', then n=5 so we can substitute that with 5=5

Another solution could be, move any of the three ones, diagonally across the equal sign 2 ≠ 5 1 ≠ 6 This means does not equal Which is correct

Me with no Math/Number Smart: I guess I got wrong answer.

Move the left matchstick of the V, but as you do so drag it across the ground so that the matchstick on the right is rotated to a vertical position, then completely remove the left matchstick. *You* move only one matchstick and it becomes 11 = 11

My guess before I watch the video: move the leftmost matchstick on the right side to the right to make it 11= XI, or 11=11

I thought of taking one of the matchsticks of the equal sign and place it next to the left side slanted, making a V. (VI - VI) Other solution would be to change the operative symbol from a = to a < so that the statement is true. (II < VI)

Move the single match to the right over to the left between the other two, and flip it upside down. You the have 101 (binary 5) = V (roman 5)

Another way is to take the matchstick from the equals sign to make it a minus and put it near the 2, so it forms 3 - 3 III - III

You could also put the last match stick over the "equals" sign to make a "not equal" sign. Then it would be 2 is not equal to 5. Which is a true statement

I don't know if it's valid, but I would move one of the sticks of the V to the other side (inversely). The result would be: 2! = 2 2! = 2 * 1 = 2

One more resolution is to move the I from six to equal sign Which will be: 2≠5 Or II≠V

you can also do 1 (not equal to sign ) v by moving the match from the RHS

Me, an intellectual: Strike the matchstick against the others

Solution number 3: take the final Matchstick and place it slanted on top of the equal sign to make it say 2 is not equal to 5.

Or another way, is move the very end of the right matchstick and leave it on a diagonal position on the equal sign, "2 does not equal to 5"

Heres a solution.... It said to just "move" it.....right? Throw out one of the right matchstick.... You still "move"d it to an irrelevant space....gone to the void Now you have a two.....and a slightly imperfect two! But you can never place those matchsticks perfectly align.... There will always be slightly more tilted than the other.....

II = VI Move one of the I matchsticks to create a slash through the =, making the equation either: I =/= VI or II =/= V

Move the far right stick diagonally across the equal sign...

Move one matchstick from the right side to the equal sign to form the equation 2 ≥ 2 (which can look like: II ≥ /I)

Alternate solution move 1 stick to form I ≠ VI ANOTHER ONE II≠V

You could move one matchstick from either side and make "not equal sign" which would make it a true statement.

i figured the second solution but instead of realising they're the same number - like a normal person would - I said "if the two sides are up and down, it's symmetrical"

im not a math expert, but you could move one matchstick off the V in VI to the equals to create what i think is the mathematical symbol for 'is equivalent to' (different to the equals sign, that is used for equations) (i think)

My guess below I'm guessing move the 5th stick from the left over the 6th, so instead of a V they make an X? Which would make the matches spell out 11 = XI (X being ten and I being one). EDIT (started video, but didn't watch solution): Oh, okay both sides a being treated as roman numerals. >~> EDIT 2 (watched solutions): Oh, my answer is valid? Okay =3

Ok, before watching this, my idea is! What does it mean by equal? Equal amount of sticks? Equal numbers? Numbers, right? So 2 = 6 right now But if you position the VI matches to make a z shape, it will look like a 2 But that would require moving more than one match..