secret digit

secret digit

Posers and Puzzles

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l

Joined
14 Dec 05
Moves
5694
24 Oct 08

I will pick a number, an integer of say, 6 or more digits. Now I'll make another number by re-arranging those same digits to a different permutation of the original. Then subtract the smaller from the larger number. and from the difference, I'll select one non-zero digit to keep secret. If I reveal the other digits of the difference, in no particular order, how would you determine the secret digit?

d

Joined
31 May 07
Moves
696
24 Oct 08

I'm thinking you add up all the digits you tell me, then cast out nines and give the value that makes it add up to 9.

IE. You say "4,5,2,6,4" and I think "4+5 = 9, + 2 = 2, + 6 = 8, + 4 = 9 + 3 = 3. So the missing digit is 6"

l

Joined
14 Dec 05
Moves
5694
24 Oct 08

Originally posted by doodinthemood
I'm thinking you add up all the digits you tell me, then cast out nines and give the value that makes it add up to 9.

IE. You say "4,5,2,6,4" and I think "4+5 = 9, + 2 = 2, + 6 = 8, + 4 = 9 + 3 = 3. So the missing digit is 6"
Yep that's it.

P
Upward Spiral

Halfway

Joined
02 Aug 04
Moves
8702
24 Oct 08
3 edits

Originally posted by luskin
Yep that's it.
Edit - I really need to learn how to read. 😞

R
Standard memberRemoved

Joined
10 Dec 06
Moves
8528
25 Oct 08

Originally posted by luskin
I will pick a number, an integer of say, 6 or more digits. Now I'll make another number by re-arranging those same digits to a different permutation of the original. Then subtract the smaller from the larger number. and from the difference, I'll select one non-zero digit to keep secret. If I reveal the other digits of the difference, in no particular order, how would you determine the secret digit?
yes, a good math magic trick

Insanity at Masada

tinyurl.com/mw7txe34

Joined
23 Aug 04
Moves
26660
26 Oct 08

This thread looks perverted. Secret digit, my arse.

Wait no, don't put it there, on second thought.

T

ALG

Joined
16 Dec 07
Moves
6190
26 Oct 08
1 edit

Originally posted by doodinthemood
I'm thinking you add up all the digits you tell me, then cast out nines and give the value that makes it add up to 9.

IE. You say "4,5,2,6,4" and I think "4+5 = 9, + 2 = 2, + 6 = 8, + 4 = 9 + 3 = 3. So the missing digit is 6"
Do you have a proof for it?

T
Kupikupopo!

Out of my mind

Joined
25 Oct 02
Moves
20443
03 Nov 08

Originally posted by Thomaster
Do you have a proof for it?
Let SOD be the function that, with any number as input, gives the Sum Of Digits of that number.

To prove: SOD(A) is dividable by 9 i.a.o.i. A is dividable by 9

Proof:

Let A = a*1 + b*10 + c*100 + d*1000 + ....

A mod 9 = a*1 + b*1 + c*1 + d*1 +... mod 9 = SOD(A) mod 9

Thus, if 9 divides A then 9 also divides SOD(A) and vise versa.

A

Joined
02 Mar 06
Moves
17881
05 Nov 08

Originally posted by TheMaster37
Let SOD be the function that, with any number as input, gives the Sum Of Digits of that number.

To prove: SOD(A) is dividable by 9 i.a.o.i. A is dividable by 9

Proof:

Let A = a*1 + b*10 + c*100 + d*1000 + ....

A mod 9 = a*1 + b*1 + c*1 + d*1 +... mod 9 = SOD(A) mod 9

Thus, if 9 divides A then 9 also divides SOD(A) and vise versa.
nice. this same modulo arithmetic argument works for proving most of the classic divisibility rules we all know and love. (taking the digit sum and checking for divisibility by 3 or 9... etc.)