April 2013
This month's challenge was quite easy - even checking all 10! possibilities is feasible, and noting the symmetries and the fact that 5 and 7 cannot be in the denominator makes it even simpler.
Another way to solve it is to take the example we gave 5/6 = 2/4 + 1/3 replace 2/4 with 1/4+2/8; 1/3 with 3/9; and 5/6 with 5/6+0/7 and get 0/7 + 5/6 = 1/4 + 2/8 + 3/9 which translates to PONDER.THIS = 175042.6983
If you have any problems you think we might enjoy, please send them in. All replies should be sent to: ponder@il.ibm.com