Question: (?x?)+(?-?)x?=2986 using 32, 93, 1, 3, and 5
The solution is:
(32 x 93) + (3 - 1)x5 = 2986
The only way to get near to the value 2986 is by multiplying the two largest numbers.
32*93 = 2976
which is only 10 short of the required total.
The remaining three numbers, 1, 3, 5, can be easiliy manipulated to give this value, resulting in the solution above.