In each of the three additions below, each letter represents a different digit; however, each letter does not necessarily represent the same digit in one addition as it does in another addition.

          G  A  L  E       E  L  S  A        N  E  A  L  
       +  N  E  A  L    +  G  A  L  E     +  E  L  S  A
       -------------    -------------     -------------
          E  L  S  A       N  E  A  L        G  A  L  E

Which addition has the smallest sum?

The first addition, GALE + NEAL, has the smallest sum.
Those in red are where a leading zero is permitted.

 GALE     2165  3165  1725  3725  0615  4615  0165  4165
+NEAL := +3516 +2165 +3572 +1572 +4561 +0561 +4516 +0516
 ELSA     5681  5681  5297  5297  5176  5176  5681  5681

 ELSA     6135
+GALE := +2516
 NEAL     8651

 NEAL     1725  2615  0615  0725  0835
+ELSA := +7532 +6541 +6541 +7532 +8523 
 GALE     9257  9156  7156  8257  9358

 

Edited on August 9, 2008, 12:11 am

Posted by Dej Mar on 2008-08-08 14:42:35