Consider a valid English word without hyphens or spaces, which is not a proper noun. Assign the values a=0, b=1, c=2, d=3, e=4, f=5, g=6, h=7, i=8 and j=9.

A date corresponding to a valid English word in consonance with the above assignment in mm/dd/yy format is called a "spell date". For example,the word "deface" generates 34/50/24 which is not a valid date in the mm/dd/yy format, and consequently not a spell date.

(A) Determine the respective first and last spell dates in the period covering January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2100 inclusively.

(B) What would have been the respective answers to (A) if the definition of a spell date involved a dd/mm/yy format instead?

(In reply to re: computer solution by Charlie)

Charlie's list is extensive, but not complete.

I found one additional valid word in an unabridged dictionary for the DD/MM/YY format that may be added to his list:
18/02/83 (February 18, 2083) BIACID

Also missed for the format YYYY/M/D are:
2011/8/4 (August 4, 2011) CABBIE
2027/4/3 (April 3, 2027) CACHED
2033/8/4 (August 4, 2033) CADDIE
2036/4/3 (April 3, 2036) CADGED

Edited on September 4, 2012, 6:04 am

Posted by Dej Mar on 2012-09-04 06:03:57