Substitute each of the letters by a different digit from 0 to 9 to satisfy this system of alphametic equations. None of the numbers as well as none of the exponents contains a leading zero.

• (DID)^W = F^XA, and:
• (FLY)^A = Y^LI, and:
• (LOW)^O = I^LT

I understand "FLY" would be (100*F)+(10*L)+Y, but how are the multiletter exponents to be read?

Does XA mean (X * A)  or  ((10*X) + A)?  Please clarify unless this ambiguity is part of the puzzle (e.g. only one interpretation would have a solution).

This depends upon the conventions in use for alphametics, which are not standardized. (In any case, rather large exponents! -- perhaps best left to those with Mathematica.)

 

Posted by ed bottemiller on 2010-08-05 11:42:38