perplexus.info :: Just Math : Number Difference and Erasure Puzzle

Number Difference and Erasure Puzzle (Posted on 2015-09-14)

The numbers 1, 3, 3², 3³,...,3¹⁰ are written on a blackboard.
We are allowed to erase any two numbers and write their difference instead (this is always a nonnegative integer.)
After this procedure has been repeated ten times, only a single number will remain.
What values could this number have?

Submitted by K Sengupta

Rating: 4.5000 (2 votes)

Solution: (Hide)

2^9=512 possible values for this number ranging from a low of ***********29525 to a high of +++++++++49207.
For an explanation, refer to the solution submitted by Jer in this location., confirmed by Larry in this location.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)

Subject	Author	Date
re: Too many to list	Larry	2020-10-13 18:59:40
Not too many to list (spoiler?)	Steve Herman	2015-09-16 12:14:32
Too many to list	Jer	2015-09-16 09:34:03

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