Simple Maths Problem

[chickenlegs]

I overheard a father on the train setting a puzzle for his children:

Using the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the addition and equal signs, make an equation which works. Each number may be used only once.

I think the addition sign can only be used once as well, but I'm not sure about this.

Is there a solution, please, as I can't do it.

[grasscarp]

4 + 3 + 5 = 12

[mollykins]

I didn't think of doing it like that grasscarp, i've been tryig to do it for the past 10 minutes.

[grasscarp]

I was thinking about it in the shower, and was on the verge of posting that maybe there is no answer and the man was trying to keep the children quiet on the train!

[factor-fiction]

There are others if you can use indices (powers)
e.g.: 2³ +1 = 4+5

[chickenlegs]

Thanks very much - I can stop worrying at it now

[adewebster]

Any thoughts on using the addition sign only once anyone? (Using only a tiny bit of lateral thinking combined with a lot of cheating, you could spin the + sign through 45 degrees to give 13x4=52, although I dare say the puzzle would have been worded differently if that's right!)