Solve this alphametic, where ten and nine are respectively numbers in base 10 and base 9 notation. Each of the small letters in bold represents a different digit, and none of the numbers contains any leading zero.

(ten)₁₀ - (nine)₉ = 1

t=9, e=0, n=1, i=2

base 10: TEN = 901 (base 10)

base 9: NINE = 1210 (base 9) = 900 (base 10)

equation (expressed as base 10): 901 - 900 = 1

Approach: translate the base 9 into base 10, while nesting four loops, one for each letter.  Solution is unique.

Posted by ed bottemiller on 2009-04-23 12:40:50