Can You Solve It? The 731 Matchstick Puzzle That’s Breaking the Internet

Have you ever come across a puzzle so simple, yet so mind-bending, that it stops you in your tracks? We recently stumbled upon a brain teaser that’s been making the rounds on social media, and it’s the perfect way to give your brain a little workout.

The challenge is as follows:

Make the number smaller than 731 by moving only ONE matchstick.
(Make one at 731 a smaller number with just the move of a stick) 

It sounds easy, right? You have the number 731, and with just a single move, you need to make it a smaller number. But as with most great puzzles, the simplicity is what makes it so tricky. So, before you read on, take a moment to really look at the number 731. How could you change it with just one matchstick?

The Solution: Thinking Outside the Box

Most people get caught up in trying to change the digits themselves. You might think about moving a stick from the ‘7’ to turn it into a ‘1’, or altering the ‘3’ or the ‘1’ to make the whole number smaller. While these are logical first steps, the true solution requires you to think a little differently.

The key is to realize that you don’t have to change the digits at all.

The answer is to move one matchstick from the number ‘7’ and place it horizontally in front of the number to create a minus sign.

By doing this, the ‘7’ transforms into a ‘1’, and you create a new mathematical expression: -731.

And -731 is certainly a number much smaller than 731! 

Why This Puzzle is So Brilliant

This puzzle is a fantastic example of lateral thinking. It tricks our brains into a specific way of thinking. We see a number and automatically assume we need to create another, larger, positive number that is smaller than 731. The idea of making the number negative rarely crosses our minds because we’re so focused on the digits themselves.

This is what makes matchstick puzzles so engaging. They force us to break free from our usual patterns of thought and consider possibilities we might otherwise dismiss.

Share the Fun!

Did you solve it on your own, or did the answer surprise you? Either way, these puzzles are a great way to challenge your friends and family. Share this article and see if they can figure it out without peeking at the answer!

It’s a wonderful reminder that sometimes, the most creative solution is the one that looks at the problem from a completely new angle.