Move Two Matchsticks To Form The Highest Number

I stumbled upon this brainteaser earlier today, and honestly — it took me way longer to solve than I expected. It looks simple at first glance, but apparently, only 1 in 10 people get it right on their first try!

Ready to test your logic skills? Let’s go!

The Challenge

You have the number 5008 written out using matchsticks.

Your task:
 Move only 2 matchsticks to create the highest possible number.

Seems easy, right? Well… not quite.

Take a moment to visualize it — or even grab a few real matchsticks if you want to give your brain an extra challenge.

A Little Clue

Here’s a hint: the trick isn’t about changing one number — it’s about adding more numbers.

You start with four digits… but you can end up with six if you play your sticks right.

Think you’ve cracked it?

The Correct Answer

The most widely accepted answer is 511108.

By cleverly shifting two sticks, you can transform “5008” into a six-digit number — and that’s technically the highest possible number based on the rules.

But Wait — It Gets Even Smarter

Of course, puzzle lovers on the internet never stop at the “official” answer. Some creative thinkers found a few outside-the-box ways to push this challenge even further.

Check these out:

Flip it 180° and you get 801115 — a higher number if you look at it upside down.

Think mathematically, and you can form something like 800², which equals 640,000.

Go wild with symbols and you can make 90E8, or roughly 9,000,000,000 (if you read it like scientific notation).

Or the truly genius version: 51108¹¹ — an astronomically high number that bends the puzzle rules in the best way possible.

Final Thoughts

What makes this little puzzle so addictive isn’t just the math — it’s the creativity. It’s a perfect reminder that sometimes, the smartest move is to think differently, not just logically.

You’ve just read,Move Two Matchsticks To Form The Highest Number. Why not read Manager Had To Hire A New Employee.