Open Middle®
Directions: Using the digits 1 to 9 at most one time each, fill in the boxes to make a true statement.
Hint
What possible values can the single digit have?
Answer
The only possible answer is 8 ÷ 4 = 6 ÷ 3 = 2
Source: Owen Kaplinsky
This really puzzled my students. When we looked at the hint and then the answer, they realized there was a mistake. 8 divided by 4 is 2, not 6.
Thanks! What I meant to say was 8/4=2 and 6/3=2.
That still doesn’t make a true statement, though. Is there something I’m not understanding?
I think so. Instead of 8/4=2 and 6/3=2, you could say 8/4=6/3=2. Also, you can think of it as three parts. Each one equals the same thing. Part one is 8/4 or 2, part 2 is 6/3, or 2, and part 3 is 2.
Some parentheses might help
i think it’s 8 4 6 3 2
i think it’s 8 4 6 3 2
8 divided by 2=4 divided by 2=2
i think it might be 8 4 6 3 2
i did it wrong its 8 divided by 4 = 2 so the answer is 2
8 ÷ 4 = 6 ÷ 3 = 2
8 ÷ 4 = 6 ÷ 3 = 2
8 ÷ 4 = 6 ÷ 3 = 2
it should be 8/4=2/1=1 because 8/4=6/3=2 and 8/4=2/3=2 cant be true
8 ÷ 4 = 6 ÷ 3 = 2 is the answer
8 divide 4=6 divide 3=2
8/4=6/3=2
8/4=6/3=6
8/4=6/3=2
I made an error the first time with 8/4 = 2/1 = 2 but realized I used 2 twice.
8/4=6/3=2
I am wondering if posting it like this would provide some clarification:
_ / _= _ / _
Then, the answer would be 8/4=6/2.
Couldn’t 8/4=2/1 also be an answer?
Yeah, that could be another answer.
I allowed them to put 2 digits in a line if they wanted to. This helped.
54/9 = 6/3 = 2