Math Is Fun Forum

Oakbank1953

Member

Registered: 2013-09-17

Posts: 1

nn x nnn = nnnn

Years ago, somehow, I stumbled across a problem.  Using only the digits 1-9 (not zero, and no duplications) how many combinations of nn x nnn = nnnn.  You can see that it is a 2 digit number multiplied by a three digit number = a four digit number, using only the 9 digits.  I have no idea what this problem was called (I presume it has a name...?) and I can`t find a reference to it.  Have you heard of this one?  I ended up writing a computer program to generate all the combinations and tell me the answer.  Yes it`s a cheat, but there are a lot of possible combinations...:)  Not many valid answers, though.  Peter

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: nn x nnn = nnnn

Hi;

Welcome to the forum. They are called alphametics or cryptarithms  and can be generally solved by computer. They can also be solved by hand but would take too long for ones with multiple solutions.

There are 7 solutions to

ab x cde = fghi

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