Question

Rina wanted to make the number “$262226$” using matchsticks. How many matchsticks are required to make the given number?

• A. $21$
• B. $26$
• C. $32$
• D. $36$

Answer 1

The correct option is C $32$


From the image above, we see that $5$ matchsticks are required to make $2and6$ matchsticks are needed to make $6$.

So if the number of 2s is taken as '$a$' and the number of sixes is taken as '$b$',
the number of matchsticks needed to make the 2s $=5\times a=5a$.
The number of matchsticks needed to make the 6s $=6\times b=6b$.

Total number of matchsticks $=5a+6b$.

In the number $262226$, there are $4$ '$2$'s and $2$ '$6$'s.
Hence, $a=4$ and $b=2$

Therefore, the total number of matchsticks required $=5a+6b=5\times 4+6\times 2$
$=20+12=32$