Forums

Here is a neat little variation of the classic SEND MORE MONEY puzzle.
This one is:
WIRE + MORE = MONEY

There are 3 possible solutions to this puzzle, but only one when E is an
odd number.

I enjoy working the many different varieties of puzzles that can be found here! I'm looking forward to seeing more Spokes and Hamilton Maze puzzles soon. Thank you.

Here is a puzzle very similar to alphametics. These puzzles are known as "arithmetical restoration puzzles" and have been around for a very long time. They are a bit more challenging because all missing digits are simply replaced by X's, asterisks, question marks, or blank lines. Here is an example:

x 7 x
_________
x x ) x x x x x
x 7 7
_____
x 7 x
x 7 x
_____
x x
x x
___
0

The problem is restore the missing digits, all of which have been replaced by X's, and thus reconstruct the original division. Here are 2 pieces of information that will help you. 1. All the 7's are given. 2. The three-digit
partial product ending in two 7's is divisible by 3, and maybe even by 9.
You might find it helpful to copy down the diagram on paper instead of printing it. Happy solving.

I see that the diagram did not display correctly. I have scanned this puzzle from a book on mathematical puzzles, so if anyone wants I
can e-mail you the image.

It could work if you use "code" tags. First you write code in the brackets [ and ], at the end you write /code in [ and ].
Code:

  123
   45
    6

This preserves spaces and all characters have the same width.

I'll try this once more, but I can't guarantee that it will work.
[x7x
______
xx)xxxxx
x77
___
x7x
x7x
___
xx
xx
__
0
code /code in]

still not working ... I'll keep trying.

OK Another try.
[code] x7x
_______
xx)xxxxx
x77
___
x7x
x7x
___
xx
xx
__
0
[/code]

Sorry, but I just can't get this to display right and I'm too tired to try any more tonight. I just can't figure out exactly how to use the Code brackets.
My suggestion for anyone interested in the kind of puzzle I've been trying to display here is go to Google and search for "arithmetical restoration puzzles." The famous English puzzlemaster H. E. Dudeney referred to these as "skeleton puzzles" in his book 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems.

[c o d e]1 2 3
4 5
6[/c o d e]

Like this, but without spaces within the tags and with spaces between the tags where they are appropriate.

Code:

      x7x
   ______
 xx)xxxxx
    x77
    ___
     x7x
     x7x
     ___
       xx
       xx
       __
        0

From now on, please consider using the "Preview" button before submitting a post. Also, there is an "edit" button on posts you've already made.

For the record, the solution is unique even without the solver being told that all of the 7's are given.