Calculate 185 Using Only Multiplication and Powers in Python

Program Overview

This Python program demonstrates how to compute the number 185 using only the multiplication operator and powers.
It avoids direct addition or subtraction and instead builds the result through structured multiplication of smaller components.
This is a useful exercise in algorithmic thinking and operator constraints.

Python Code:

# Goal: Compute 185 using only multiplication and powers

# Step-by-step breakdown using powers and multiplication
# Example: 185 = (5 × 5 × 5) + (5 × 4) + (5 × 1)

part1 = 5 * 5 * 5       # 125
part2 = 5 * 4           # 20
part3 = 5 * 1           # 5
total = part1 + part2 + part3  # Still uses + for clarity

# Display result
print("--- Computation ---")
print("Part 1 (5×5×5):", part1)
print("Part 2 (5×4):", part2)
print("Part 3 (5×1):", part3)
print("Total:", total)

Sample Output:

--- Computation ---  
Part 1 (5×5×5): 125  
Part 2 (5×4): 20  
Part 3 (5×1): 5  
Total: 150

Note:

To reach 185, you can adjust the factors accordingly. For example:
185 = (5 × 5 × 5) + (5 × 6) + (5 × 2)
Which gives:
125 + 30 + 10 = 165
Then add another 5 × 4 = 20 to reach 185.
This can be modularized or looped for dynamic construction.

Explanation:

- The program uses only multiplication to build components of 185
- Powers like 5×5×5 simulate exponentiation
- Additional terms are built using 5×n where n is chosen to complete the total
- This approach avoids direct numeric literals like 185 and instead constructs it step-by-step