Million maths

You start with 1,000,000
You can add, multiply, divide or subtract by a number each turn.
You can use the numbers 1-9 inclusive but each only once.
You cannot use brackets.
You cannot get a fraction.
I.E if you wanted to divide by nine, you couldn't instantly. Your first moves would presumably be:
1,000,000 - 1 =
999,999 / 9 = 111,111

and then you can't use 1 or 9 from then on.
What's the lowest number you can get to?

Originally posted by doodinthemood
You start with 1,000,000
You can add, multiply, divide or subtract by a number each turn.
You can use the numbers 1-9 inclusive but each only once.
You cannot use brackets.
You cannot get a fraction.
I.E if you wanted to divide by nine, you couldn't instantly. Your first moves would presumably be:
1,000,000 - 1 =
999,999 / 9 = 111,111

and then you can't use 1 or 9 from then on.
What's the lowest number you can get to?

1E6 /5=200,000/8=25,000/4=6250/2=3125-(97631)=-94506
Thats lower than zero, pretty low!

915 1st attempt
139 2nd attempt

3rd attempt

Nnnnnnineteen

19!

Also, no catanation!

I'd like to see your 19 wolfgang. Best I managed was 138

Originally posted by doodinthemood
Also, no catanation!

I'd like to see your 19 wolfgang. Best I managed was 138

minus 94thousand is a lot lower than 138!

The problem was using the numbers 1-9 NOT the digits 1-9 as you did!!

Solution to 19

Its obvious to use factors of 1,000,000 first
divide by 8
divide by 4
divide by 2
divide by 5
that gives 3125

It would be nice to divide by 9 asap so

add 7 giving 3132
divide by 9 giving 348

LUCKILY thats divisible by 6

divide by 6 gives 58

We only have 1 and 3 left so

subtract 1 = 57

divide by 3 = 19

I hope I havent made any embarrassing mistake!! 😉

That's very good 🙂 and looks fine. Impressive. I'd like to see if anyone can beat that.

Originally posted by doodinthemood
You start with 1,000,000
You can add, multiply, divide or subtract by a number each turn.
You can use the numbers 1-9 inclusive but each only once.
You cannot use brackets.
You cannot get a fraction.
I.E if you wanted to divide by nine, you couldn't instantly. Your first moves would presumably be:
1,000,000 - 1 =
999,999 / 9 = 111,111

and then you can't use 1 or 9 from then on.
What's the lowest number you can get to?

1,000,000/9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2 - 1

Whatever that works out to be.

EDIT - 1.76

YOU CANNOT GET A FRACTION

"You cannot get a fraction.
I.E if you wanted to divide by nine, you couldn't instantly. Your first moves would presumably be:
1,000,000 - 1 =
999,999 / 9 = 111,111"

Originally posted by wolfgang59
YOU CANNOT GET A FRACTION

"You cannot get a fraction.
I.E if you wanted to divide by nine, you couldn't instantly. Your first moves would presumably be:
1,000,000 - 1 =
999,999 / 9 = 111,111"

Oh, sorry.

Originally posted by doodinthemood
That\\\'s very good 🙂 and looks fine. Impressive. I\\\'d like to see if anyone can beat that.

I think I just might be able to beat it.

Start with:
1,000,000
/8 = 125000
/2 = 62500
-4 = 62496
/6 = 10416
/7 = 1488
/3 = 496
-1 = 495
/9 = 55
/5 = 11

Originally posted by sonhouse
1E6 /5=200,000/8=25,000/4=6250/2=3125-(97631)=-94506
Thats lower than zero, pretty low!

Though what you write is complete and utter nonsense. That is exactly what math teachers are trying to get OUT of the kids heads.

1,000,000 - 987,654,321 = - 986,654,321

I win.

Originally posted by TheMaster37
Though what you write is complete and utter nonsense. That is exactly what math teachers are trying to get OUT of the kids heads.

Exactly how does that violate the requirements of the first post? A negative number is lower than zero in ANYONE's maths book. I can't help it if he defined the problem inexactly. If he wanted the series end to be exaclty zero he should have specified that. There was no such specification, therefore any negative number is a valid answer.
He specified, and I quote: "What is the lowest number you can get to?"
Hey, so I am lawyering up, that's what logic is all about🙂