Matchstick Men

Go out and get yourself 15 matchsticks. You’re going to use the matchsticks to make the following Roman numeral sequence. One, then two matchsticks to make a plus sign. Then a Roman numeral two. Plus Roman numeral three. Plus Roman numeral four.

It would look like this: I + II + III + IV.

The question is, can you move one matchstick, without removing it, still using them all — and make the above equation equal four? The RiddleDude can.

8 guesses to Matchstick Men

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• 1

1 + 11 – 111 = 1v

• Dude

Nope

• Geoff

Move a matchstick from the second plus sign to the roman numeral two.
I + III – III + IV

• The Riddledude thinks your equation equals five.

Check your math and try again.

• Paul

-I – II + III + IV = Four

• Yes! Take the vertical matchstick from the first plus sign and put it horizontally in front of the I.
Great job, Paul.
You’re today’s winner!

• Roolstar

Would I – IV + III + IV work as well? (Making a V with the stick removed from the plus sign in front of II)

• But you can only move one matchstick. In order to make the V, you’d have to move the stick, right?
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