Suppose that we have two operations that we can perform on an integer:
Multiply it by any positive integer.
Delete the 0's in its decimal representation.
Beginning with any positive integer can we always obtain a single-digit number after a finite number of operations? For example, beginning with 7, we can multiply by 15 to obtain 105, delete the 0 to get 15, multiply by 2 to get 30, then delete the 0 to end with 3.
(In reply to
re(2): Possible solution by broll)
Sorry - perhaps my formula is unclear. I use * for 1st multiply and then remove 0's.
(((( 999 * 95) * 99) * 108) * 8) * 5 = 9
( via 9495, 945, 126, 18)
broken down is:
999 x 95 = 94905 -->9495
9495 x 99 = 94005 --> 945
945 x 108 = 102060 --> 126
126 x 8 = 1008 --> 18
18 x 5 = 90 --> 9
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I haven't had time to study your math or B. Smith's, but I seemed to get the idea you thought 999 could not be reduced to a single digit.
Maybe we now agree that it can.
Cheers
- SL