1 more math riddle

Hello,

it seems to easy... :

14 = 7 + 7 = 9 + 5

Those are 2 answers with odd one-digit numbers.  There are many more answers if you really meant odd numbers.

I you mean using those five numbers only once, in four operations to be chosen among (+,-), then it's easy to prove that there is no solution.

I will write the proof for you :

When you add or substract an even number of odd numbers, you obtain an even number.
When you add or substract an odd number of odd numbers, you obtain an odd number.

Five is an odd number, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are 5 odd numbers, then adding or substracting those gives an odd number. No matter how you order the operations.

Conclusion : it can NOT give 14.

The_legend wrote:

yes..,there is a solution with these

If you think I have, for the second time, misunderstood the statement of your problem, please be kind enough to express it more clearly.  For example if you meant it in base 11 instead of 10, please state it clearly.
Or find an error in my proof if you can.

Hi,

this is funny    
At least you have found a statement and a solution that could more or less fit The legend's demand !

With such vague statements, we can look for other solutions, for example :
9 - 5 + 3 + 7  =  14   and   14¹ = 14

Or in base eleven, we have 9 + 7 + 1 + 3 - 5  =  14  (because 14 is the way to write fifteen in base eleven)
In base fifteen : 9 + 7 + 5 - 3 + 1  =  14
Etc.

Or  19 - 3 - 7 + 5  =  14
Or  15 - 3 + 9 - 7  =  14

The more vague the statement, the more solutions you find...  (Hum... does this sentence sound English ?)