% solve the 7/11 problem systematically using brute force
clear
clc

counter = 1;
for a = 0.01 : 0.01 : 7.08
    for b = 0.01 : 0.01 : 7.08
        for c = 0.01 : 0.01 : 7.08
            for d = 0 : 0.79 : 7.08
                mySum = a+b+c+d;
                myProduct = a*b*c*d;
                if (mySum == 7.11) 
                    if (myProduct == 7.11)
                        return; 
                    end
                end
    
                counter = counter + 1;
                if (rem(counter,10000) == 0) %if (rem(counter,1000000))==0
                    counter
                end
            end
        end
    end
end

counter