SQL Puzzle #... 9?: Make 28 out of 4 values 3

[SQLDenis]

Ok here we go, a simple one
values: 2,3,4,5
operators +, -, /, *

use all the numbers and some of the operators to create 28
Write it as a select statement so that 28 will be the result when you run this


More math than SQL but who cares


Denis The SQL Menace
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http://sqlservercode.blogspot.com/

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[vongrunt]

With or without braces () ?

------
Theory: everybody knows everything, nothing works
Practice: everything works, nobody knows why

 

[gmmastros]

I assume we should ONLY use each number ONCE. Ex. The following is NOT an acceptable answer.

Select 5 + 5 + 5 + 4 + 4 + 3 + 2

-George

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause. - Fortune cookie wisdom

 

[SQLDenis]

yes each number once and braces allowed

Denis The SQL Menace
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[gmmastros]

Ok. I got an answer. Kinda tricky though.

[white]Select 5*3/2*4[/white]

-George

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause. - Fortune cookie wisdom

 

[SQLDenis]

Interesting I had

[COLOR=white]
select 4*(5+6/3) [/color]

Denis The SQL Menace
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[gmmastros]

Well, my code didn't account for braces. It was VERY brute force, and braces would only have made it worse.

Here's the code I came up with. Prepare to laugh!

Declare @Temp 
Table(RowId Integer Identity(1,1), Attempt VarChar(50))

Insert Into @Temp(Attempt)
Select	Convert(VarChar(1), N1) + Op1 + Convert(VarChar(1), N2) + Op2 + Convert(VarChar(1), N3) + Op3 + Convert(VarChar(1), N4)
From	(
		Select 	A.Number As N1, 
				B.Number As N2, 
				C.Number As N3, 
				D.Number As N4
		From	(Select 2 As Number Union All Select 3 Union All Select 4 Union All Select 5) A
				Cross Join 
				(Select 2 As Number Union All Select 3 Union All Select 4 Union All Select 5) b
				Cross Join 
				(Select 2 As Number Union All Select 3 Union All Select 4 Union All Select 5) c
				Cross Join 
				(Select 2 As Number Union All Select 3 Union All Select 4 Union All Select 5) d
		Where	A.Number <> B.Number
				And A.Number <> C.Number
				And A.Number <> D.Number
				And B.Number <> C.Number
				And B.Number <> D.Number
				And C.Number <> D.Number
		) A
		Cross Join 
		(
		Select 	A.Operation As Op1, 
				B.Operation As Op2, 
				C.Operation As Op3
		From	(Select '+' As Operation Union All Select '-' Union All Select '*' Union All Select '/') A
				Cross Join 
				(Select '+' As Operation Union All Select '-' Union All Select '*' Union All Select '/') b
				Cross Join 
				(Select '+' As Operation Union All Select '-' Union All Select '*' Union All Select '/') c
		) B

Declare @i Integer
Declare @Attempt VarChar(10)
Declare @Max Integer
Declare @SQL VarChar(1000)
Declare @Answer VarChar(100)

Select	@i = 1,
		@Max = Max(RowId)
From	@Temp

Create Table #Temp(Answer Integer, Attempt VarChar(100))

While @i <= @Max
	Begin
		Select 	@Attempt = Attempt
		From	@Temp
		Where	RowId = @i

		Set @SQL = 'Select ' + @Attempt + ' As Answer, ''' + @Attempt + ''' As Attempt'

		Insert Into #Temp
		Exec (@SQL) 

		Set @i = @i + 1
	End

Select * From #Temp Where Answer = 28 Order By Answer

Drop Table #Temp

-George

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause. - Fortune cookie wisdom

 

[SQLDenis]

;-)

how about with 4 numbers 9 create 100


let's see how this goes

Denis The SQL Menace
SQL blog:

http://sqlservercode.blogspot.com/

Personal Blog:

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[r937]

no parentheses:

[COLOR=white]select 5*4/3+2[/color]

r937.com | rudy.ca

 

[r937]

aw rats, i was going for 8, not 28

i am such an idiot

r937.com | rudy.ca

 

[vongrunt]

-- how about with 4 numbers 9 create 100

4 numbers... literally

select 99+9/9

------
Theory: everybody knows everything, nothing works
Practice: everything works, nobody knows why

 

[SQLDenis]

yep

Denis The SQL Menace
SQL blog:

http://sqlservercode.blogspot.com/

Personal Blog:

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[AtomicWedgie]

how about this

select ((5*2)-3)*4

Regards,

atomic wedgie

 

[AtomicWedgie]

Hi SQLDenis,

your solution:

select 4*(5+6/3)

is indeed interesting considering the allowed values are 2,3,4 and 5

Regards,

Atomic Wedgie

 

[vongrunt]

OK, stealth error . He probably meant

select 4*(5*2-3)

------
Theory: everybody knows everything, nothing works
Practice: everything works, nobody knows why

 

[SQLDenis]

I can not believe I did this
The question should have been

values: 3,4,5,6
operators +, -, /, *

Oh well doesn't matter anymore

Denis The SQL Menace
SQL blog:

http://sqlservercode.blogspot.com/

Personal Blog:

http://otherthingsnow.blogspot.com/

 

[SQLDenis]

Stars to all the people who wasted their time with this
Sorry for the mistake, my bad



Denis The SQL Menace
SQL blog:

http://sqlservercode.blogspot.com/

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