All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Numbers
What do you know? (Posted on 2020-04-29) Difficulty: 3 of 5
WHAT*NOW=KKKKKK

Solve the above equation, without use of computer or calculator.

Evaluate KNOW+HOW=?


No Solution Yet Submitted by Ady TZIDON    
No Rating

Comments: ( Back to comment list | You must be logged in to post comments.)
Possible solution Comment 3 of 3 |
Idea:

Factor 111111:3×7×11×13×37 
Factor 222222:3×7×11×13×37 * 2, etc

Consider: 
The divisors of 111111 with 2 to 4 digits are: 11,13,21,33,37,39,77,91,111,143,231,259,273,407,429,481,777,1001,1221,1443, 2849,3003, 3367, 5291, 8547. 9 times a single digit divisor or 11 is less than 100, so those divisors can be ignored.Those with 5 digits can also be ignored because they are too big.

None of the digits K can feature in any of the divisors, so K=1 can be ruled out, as the smallest one-less number greater than 100, 259*429=111111, so that there are insufficient digits to form WHAT.

Say K=2. Possible divisors are: 77,91,111,143,231,259,273,407,429,481,777,1001,1221,1443, 2849,3003,3367, with one being multiplied by 2. We can rule out those that obviously replicate digits, either alone or multiplied by 2: 111,777,1001,1221,1443,3003,3367, leaving 91,143,231,259,273,407,429,481,2849. 222222/2849 = 78, and 481*2= 962, so 2 can also be eliminated.

At this point, it might be worth setting up a table to evaluate the outcomes more quickly:

The divisors are down the centre. The RHS (table A) shows the result when the divisors are applied to 111111,222222, etc. 
The LHS (table B) shows the multiples 2x, 3x and 4x of the divisors which can be used to generate all other solutions (2*2=4, 2*3=6, etc.)

We can eliminate a lot of the table easily, e.g. 

1. Candidate is too small or too large
2. Candidate contains a repeated digit, e.g. 858.
3. Candidate is in Table A and greater than 4 and contains a digit matching K
etc.

In the event it turns out that 2*77*4329=154*4329 satisfies the requirements of the puzzle, as indicated by Larry.

Edited on April 30, 2020, 9:27 am
  Posted by broll on 2020-04-30 09:22:02

Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (8)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information