competition report

We invited readers to make sums out of the dates in the second half of May and a splendid job you all did. Some even extended the list backwards to cover the first half.

Those who broke the rules by writing the month as "05" managed all dates. Those who brilliantly circumvented the ban on square roots by raising 9 to the power of 0.5 managed all but two. Lucy Davey wins the Chambers Dictionary. ]

Here is the full set:

15 = 9 + 6

2 - .5 = 9 -. 6

3 x 5 = 9 + 6

.4 + 5 = 9 x .6

6 x .5 = 9 - 6

8 - 5 = 9 - 6

9.5 = 9 - 6

10 + 5 = 9 + 6

1 + 1 - 5 +9 = 6

(1 x 2) - 5 + 9 = 6

1 x 3 x 5 = 9 + 6

1 + 4.5 = 9 - 6

15 5 = 9 - 6

1 x 6 x .5 = 9 - 6

1 + 7 - 5 = 9 - 6

1 = (8 x .5) - 9 + 6

1 + 9 + 5 = 9 + 6

20 - 5 = 9 + 6

(2 x 1) - 5 + 9 = 6

2 + (2 x .5) = 9 - 6

2 x 3 x .5 = 9 - 6

(2 + 4) x .5 = 9 - 6

2 + .5 + .5 = 9 - 6

2 + 6 - 5 = 9 - 6

2 x .75 = 9 6

2 + 8 + 5 = 9 + 6

2 = (9.5 + 9) 6

30 x .5 = 9 + 6

3 x 1 x 5 = 9 + 6

The 5th &7th can't be done.