Imagine your calculator is broken. Although it will still display numbers, only the 4 key, + key, = key and clear key work.
Starting at 0, can you get the calculator to display 1000? What’s the fastest way, with the fewest button presses?
Scroll down for the answer!
Brainteaser answer
It’s definitely possible to get this calculator to display 1000. You could press 4 + 4 + 4 + … and after 250 fours, you’ll get the right answer. But there are also faster ways.
If you start with 44 or 444, you’ll get to your goal much faster. The best solution combines both of these numbers. Using 444 is the most efficient way to make big numbers with few button presses, so it’s a good place to start.
444 + 444 = 888 is most of the way there. You can’t add another 444 without going over the goal, so instead, add some 44s.
444 + 444 + 44 + 44 = 976, and then add more 4s to finish it off:
444 + 444 + 44 + 44 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 1000
This solution takes just 26 button presses all up!
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