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# Can you beat this burning 2014 game?

What is the smallest positive integer which cannot be formed using the digits 2, 0, 1, 4 in that order? You are allowed to use $$+, -, \times, \div$$, exponential, factorials, etc. Be creative, and share what you can get. Let's see how high we can go.

To get started, I have:
$$1 = -2 - 0 - 1 + 4$$
$$2 = - 2 - 0 \times 1 + 4$$
$$3 = 2 \times 0 - 1 + 4$$
$$4 = 2 \times 0 \times 1 + 4$$

For clarity, the only numbers which appear are $$2, 0, 1, 4$$ in that order. You cannot use a greek symbol to present a number ( e.g. $$\pi = 3.14159\ldots$$. The square root sign $$\sqrt{ \, }$$ is borderline, since it actually represents $$\sqrt[2]{ \, }$$, but we'd allow it. You can't use cube root, unless you have a 3, as in $$\sqrt[3]{ \, }$$.

Note by Chung Kevin
3 years, 4 months ago

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5 = 2+0-1 + 4

6 = 2 + 0 X 1 + 4

7 = 2 + 0 + 1 + 4

8 = (2 + 0 X 1) X 4

I can't get 9, maybe something like 2X4 +1? · 3 years, 4 months ago

$$9=\sqrt{(2+0+1)^4}$$ is allowed? · 3 years, 4 months ago

If that isn't allowed, there's always $$(-2-0!)\cdot (1-4)$$. · 3 years, 4 months ago

$$10=(2+0)\times(1+4)$$

Pero no puedo obtener 11... · 3 years, 4 months ago

$$11=(2+0!)!+1+4$$ · 3 years, 4 months ago

$$12=(2+0+1)\times 4$$

$$13=-2^0+14$$

$$14=2\times 0+14$$

$$15=2^0+14$$

$$16=2+0+14$$

$$17=2+0!+14$$

$$18=2+(0!+1)^4$$

$$19=20-1^4$$

$$20=(2+0!)!+14$$

$$21=-2-0-1+4!$$

$$22=-2+0\times 1+4!$$

$$23=2\times 0-1+4!$$

$$24=2\times 0\times 1+4!$$

$$25=2\times 0+1+4!$$

$$26=2+0\times 1+4!$$

$$27=2+0+1+4!$$

$$28=2+0!+1+4!$$

$$29=(2+0!)!-1+4!$$

$$30=(2+0!)!\times 1+4!$$

$$31=(2+0!)!+1+4!$$

$$32=2((0!+1)^4)$$

$$33=\phi((2+0!+1)!)+4!$$

$$34=20+14$$

Is combining digits allowed? How about totient function? · 3 years, 4 months ago

$$35 = \left \lfloor \sqrt{ \left ( (2+0!)! + 1 \right )! } \right \rfloor \div \sqrt {4}$$

$$36 = \sqrt {\left ( 2+0! \right )!^{(1 \times 4)} }$$

$$37 = \left \lfloor \sqrt{ \phi ( ( ((2+0!)!)!) } \right \rfloor + (1 \times 4!)$$

$$38 = \left \lceil \sqrt{ \phi ( ( ((2+0!)!)!) } \right \rceil + ( 1 \times 4!)$$

$$39 = \left \lceil \sqrt{ \phi ( ( ((2+0!)!)!) } \right \rceil + 1 + 4!$$

$$40 = \sqrt { \phi \left ( \phi \left ( (2+0!)! \right ) \right ) } \times (1 + 4)$$

$$41 = \left \lceil \sqrt{((2+0!)!)!} \right \rceil + 14$$

$$42 = \phi \left ( \left \lceil \sqrt{((2+0!)!)!} \right \rceil \right ) + 1 \times 4!$$

$$43 = \phi \left ( \left \lceil \sqrt{((2+0!)!)!} \right \rceil \right ) + 1 + 4!$$

$$44 = \left \lfloor \sqrt{2014} \right \rfloor$$

$$45 = \left \lceil \sqrt{2014} \right \rceil$$

$$46 = \phi \left ( \left ( \left \lceil \sqrt {\sqrt { \phi ( ((2+0!)!)! )} } \right \rceil \right ) ! - 1 + 4! \right )$$

$$47 = \left ( \left \lceil \sqrt {\sqrt { \phi ( ((2+0!)!)! )} } \right \rceil \right ) ! - 1 + 4!$$

$$48 = (2+0!+1)! +4!$$

$$49 = \left ( \left \lceil \sqrt {\sqrt { \phi ( ((2+0!)!)! )} } \right \rceil \right ) ! + 1 + 4!$$

$$50 = \left \lfloor 201 \div 4 \right \rfloor$$

$$51 = \left \lceil 201 \div 4 \right \rceil$$

$$52 = \left \lfloor \sqrt { \phi \left ( ((2+0!)!)! \right ) } \right \rfloor \times 1 \times 4$$

$$53 = \phi \left ( \left \lfloor \sqrt { \sqrt { \sqrt{20!}}} \right \rfloor \right ) + 1 - \phi (4!)$$

$$54 = \phi \left ( \left \lceil \sqrt{ ((2+0!)!)! } \right \rceil \right ) \times 1 \times \left \lfloor \sqrt {\phi (4!) } \right \rfloor$$

$$55 = \phi ( \phi ( \phi ( ((2+0!)!)!))) - 1 + 4!$$

$$56 = \left \lceil \sqrt{ \phi ( ((2+0!)!)! ) } \right \rceil \times 1 \times \left \lceil \phi ( \phi (4!)) \right \rceil$$

$$57 = \phi ( \phi ( \phi ( ((2+0!)!)!))) + 1 + 4!$$

$$58 = \phi ( \phi ( ((2+0!)!)!)) - \left \lceil \sqrt{ \phi ( ( 1+4)! ) } \right \rceil$$

$$59 = \phi ( \phi ( ((2+0!)!)!)) - 1 - 4$$

$$60 = \phi ( \phi ( ((2+0!)!)!)) - ( 1 \times 4)$$

$$61 = \phi ( \phi ( ((2+0!)!)!)) + 1 - 4$$

$$62 = \phi ( \phi ( ((2+0!)!)!)) - ( 1 \times \sqrt{4})$$

$$63 = \phi ( \phi ( ((2+0!)!)!)) + 1 - \sqrt{4}$$

$$64 = \left ( \phi ( \phi ( ((2+0!)!)!)) \right ) \times (1^4)$$

$$65 = \phi ( \phi ( ((2+0!)!)!)) + 1 + \sqrt{4}$$

$$66 = \left ( \phi ( \phi ( ((2+0!)!)!)) \right ) \times 1 + \sqrt{4}$$ · 3 years, 4 months ago

Oh wow. It seems possible that with factorial, totient, floor/ceiling and roots, you can get wriggle around a lot.

What if square roots were not allowed? Staff · 3 years, 4 months ago

Oh actually I can construct every positive integer. Take $$((((((0+1+4)!)!)!)!)!)!$$, or an arbitrarily large number of factorials, then apply the totient function a number of times such that the number is the desired power of 2, then take $$\log\ 2$$. $n=\log_2 (\phi(\phi(\cdots(\phi(\phi(((\cdots((0+1+4)!)!\cdots)!)!)\cdots)))$ This works since repeatedly applying the totient function eventually gives a power of 2, and the totient of a power of 2 is the previous power of 2.

For example, $50=\log_2(\phi^{501}(((0+1+4)!)!))$ where $$\phi^n$$ denotes applying the totient function $$n$$ times. Calculated via Mathematica. · 3 years, 4 months ago

That's pretty cool :) Of course, the next question is, what happens if the totient function is not allowed? · 3 years, 4 months ago

Well, without the totient function, I can't find a way to make 33. · 3 years, 4 months ago

Why does totient eventually make a power of 2? · 3 years, 4 months ago

First, I'll assume you know the formula for the totient function.

When applying totient to an odd prime, another 2, along with possibly some other odd primes, is generated. With each totient, the power on 2 increases/stays the same unless the number is a power of 2. Eventually, all odd primes are gone, and there is a large power of 2 remaining. · 3 years, 4 months ago

$$35=\phi(\phi(\phi((2+0!)!)))-1-4$$

$$36=\phi(\phi(\phi((2+0!)!)))\times 1-4$$

$$37=\phi(\phi(\phi((2+0!)!)))+1-4$$

$$38=\phi(\phi(\phi((2+0!)!)))-1\times\phi(4)$$

$$39=\phi(\phi(\phi((2+0!)!)))+1-\phi(4)$$

$$40=\phi(\phi(\phi((2+0!)!)))+1-\phi(\phi(4))$$

$$41=\phi(\phi(\phi((2+0!)!)))+1\times\phi(\phi(4))$$

$$42=\phi(\phi(\phi((2+0!)!)))+1\times \phi(4)$$

$$43=\phi(\phi(\phi((2+0!)!)))+1+\phi(4)$$

$$44=\phi(\phi(\phi((2+0!)!)))+1\times 4$$

$$45=\phi(\phi(\phi((2+0!)!)))+1+4$$

$$46=-2+(0!+1)\times 4!$$

$$47=-\phi(2)+(0!+1)\times 4!$$

$$48=(2+0\times 1)\times 4!$$

$$49=\phi(2)+(0!+1)\times 4!$$

$$50=2+(0!+1)\times 4!$$

$$51=(2+0!)\times(1+\phi^9((\phi(4!)!)))$$ · 3 years, 4 months ago

$$48=\phi(20)\times\phi(14)$$ · 2 years, 5 months ago

I honestly don't know, been trying hard to continue after $$34$$ without the use of square root. Turns out it works very handy with floor/ceiling function and factorials. This is because when we combine $$2$$ and $$0$$ as such: $$((2+0!)!)! = 720$$, and apply the functions in different orders, we can get many (possibly infinite) natural numbers. · 3 years, 4 months ago

$$67 = \phi(\phi((((2+0!)!)!))) - 1 + 4$$

$$68 = \phi(\phi((((2+0!)!)!))) \times 1 + 4$$

$$69 = \phi(\phi((((2+0!)!)!))) + 1 + 4$$

$$70 = \phi(\phi((((2+0!)!)!))) + (1 + |\sqrt{4}|)!$$

$$71 = \phi(\phi((((2+0!)!)!))) - 1 + \phi(4!)$$

$$72 = \phi(\phi((((2+0!)!)!))) \times 1 + \phi(4!)$$

$$73 = \phi(\phi((((2+0!)!)!))) + 1 + \phi(4!)$$

$$74 = \phi(\phi((((2+0!)!)!))) + \phi(\phi(-1+4!))$$

$$75 = (2+0!) \times (1+4!)$$

$$76 = (20-1) \times 4$$ · 3 years, 4 months ago

64 can also equal $$4^{(2+1)} \times 0!$$ · 3 years, 4 months ago

33 is also $$\frac{\varphi(201)}{4}$$ · 3 years, 4 months ago

This is probably a better solution since $$\phi ((2+0!+1)!) +4! = \phi (24) + 24 = 8 + 24 = 32$$ not $$33$$. · 3 years, 4 months ago

True enough I messed up, nice catch! · 3 years, 4 months ago

Factorial.....

You're smart lol · 3 years, 4 months ago

[(2+0)x4]+1 · 3 years, 4 months ago

Well, this is in the wrong order. · 3 years, 4 months ago

True, we always depend on other functions, disregarding the basic stuffs. · 3 years, 4 months ago

$$100=20\times(1+4)$$ · 2 years, 5 months ago

$$1,638,400,000,000,000,000=20^{14}$$

$$2,432,902,008,176,640,000^{87,178,291,200} = 20!^{14!}$$ is a possibility as well if you can use double digits

Noone told me me anything not being able to:

$$2,432,902,008,176,640,000^{87,178,291,200}! = (20!^{14!})!$$ · 3 years, 3 months ago

maybe every number can be formed · 3 years, 4 months ago

5 = 2+0-1 + 4

6 = 2 + 0 X 1 + 4

7 = 2 + 0 + 1 + 4

8 = (2 + 0 X 1) X 4 · 3 years, 4 months ago

2 raised to 0 +1 raised to 4 · 3 years, 4 months ago

(0!+0!+0!+0!+0!+0!)!=720 · 3 years, 4 months ago