Before I retired, I would give my students the following challenge:
Write expressions for all the numbers from 1 to 100 using only the digits in the current year in order and using the operations +, -, x, ÷ (or / for divided by), ^ (raised to a power), sqrt (square root), ! (factorial), and int (or [] for greatest integer function), along with grouping symbols.

So, the first problem of the new year is to use only the digits 2, 0, 2, 5, (and in that order) along with the operations listed above to write expressions for all the numbers from 1 to 25.

Extra credit for those who can go past 25 (consecutively).

Click here for a worksheet

Click here for solutions to previous years
Some Solutions to the Problem:

1 = -2 + 0 - 2 + 5
2 = 2 + 0 * 25
3 = sqrt(2 + 0 + 2 + 5)
4 = -2 + 0! + sqrt(25)
5 = 2 * 0 * 2 + 5
6 = 2 + 0! - 2 + 5
7 = 2 * 0 + 2 + 5
8 = 2 - 0! + 2 + 5
9 = 2 + 0 + 2 + 5
10 = 2 + 0! + 2 + 5
11 = 2 - 0! + 2 * 5
12 = [sqrt(202)] - [sqrt(5)]
13 = (2 + 0!)^2 + 4     or     2 + 0 + 2 * 5
14 = 20 - [sqrt(2)] - 5
15 = 20 - sqrt(25)
16 = 20 + [sqrt(2)] - 5
17 = 20 + 2 - 5
18 = 20 - [sqrt(sqrt(25))]
19 = -((2 + 0!)!) + 25
20 = 20 * [sqrt(sqrt(sqrt(25)))]
21 = -[sqrt(20)] + 25
22 = -2 - 0! + 25
23 = -2 - 0 + 25
24 = -2 + 0! + 25
25 = 2 * 0 + 25
26 = 2 - 0! + 25
27 = 2 + 0 + 25
28 = 2 + 0! + 25
29 = [sqrt(20)] + 25
30 = 20 + 2 * 5

Click here for Hari Kishan's solutions


Correctly solved by:

1. K. Sengupta     **   (solved 1 - 30) Calcutta, India
2. Kamal Lohia Holy Angel School,
Hisar, Haryana, India
3. Ivy Joseph     **   (solved 1 - 30) Pune, Maharashtra, India
4. Dr. Hari Kishan     **   (solved 1 - 50) D.N. College,
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
5. Davit Banana     **   (solved 1 - 33) Istanbul, Turkey
6. Colin (Yowie) Bowey     **   (solved 1 - 45) Beechworth, Victoria, Australia

      ** Extra Credit