Help with an order of operations problem

[jane saja]

I am a math dummy and I am trying to help my son with this math challenge he was given at school today. We have been working on it for a couple of hours now with no success.
Using these numbers in order, create an order of operations to equal a value of 100.
Even a small hint would be helpful. 3, 5, 6, 2, 54, 5 =100
Is it even solvable? We can get 101! :

 

[stapel]

There is no "formula" for this. Your son just needs to allow himself some time to fiddle with the numbers.

Eliz.

 

[jane saja]

He has been "fiddling" with the numbers for 2 1/2 hours. I won't be happy if he comes home tomorrow and the teacher tells him it was a trick question. The order of the numbers cannot be changed to solve they must stay in order.

 

[tkhunny]

3, 5, 6, 2, 54, 5

(54*2) - (3*6) + (5+5) = 108 - 18 + 10 = 90 + 10 = 100

Never spend 2½ on such a silly problem. Punt and take the hit.

 

[Denis]

TK, I think they got to stay in the order presented: 3, 5, 6, 2, 54, 5

3 * (5 - 6) + 2 * 54 - 5 = -3 + 108 - 5 = 100

Bonus:
3 * 5 + 6^2 + 54 - 5 = 15 + 36 + 54 - 5 = 100

The 1st one can be written this way:
-3^(-5 + 6) + 2 * 54 - 5 = -3 + 108 - 5 = 100

 

[jane saja]

Thank you for your help with my sons problem. My husband came home and solved it in 10 minutes. I am glad it was difficult for all of you as well,it justified my tearing my hair out. I am somewhat O.C.D. so it is difficult to give up. Here is the solution, and like I said I am no good with math and I don't know how to write this equation properly. I think you will be able to figure it out.

(5+3)-6]+[2x(54-5)=100

 

[tkhunny]

Here is the solution

Grouse, Sputter.

That was A solution. Quite obviously, there are several solutions.