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A Primer On Cryptarithmetic PDF
A Primer On Cryptarithmetic PDF
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A PRIMER ON
CRYPTARITHMETIC
Home
My Cryptarithms CONTENTS
Crack a Puzzle Online! WHAT IS CRYPTARITHMETIC?
HOW TO SOLVE A PUZZLE
The Sphinx Collection 1. Preparation
2. Remember cryptarithmetic conventions
3. See subtractions as "upside-down" additions
A Primer on 4. Search for "0" and "9" in additions or subtractions
Cryptarithmetic 5. Search for "1" in additions or subtractions
6. Search for "1" in multiplications or divisions
7. Search for "1" and "6" in multiplications or divisions
Alphametic Puzzle 8. Search for "0" and "5" in multiplications or divisions
Solver 9. Match to make progress
10. When stuck, generate-and-test
EXAMPLES WORKED OUT IN DETAIL BY MASTER
Alphametic Puzzle
PUZZLISTS
Generator 1. Geoffrey Mott-Smith
2. Steven Kahan
Books on 3. J. A. H. Hunter
4. Maxey Brooke
Cryptarithmetic 5. Joseph S. Madachy
6. C. R. Wylie Jr.
Links to Cryptarithm MORE ON CRYPTARITHM SOLVING
Sites on the Web FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GLOSSARY
Sphinx memorial REFERENCES
Comments
WHAT IS CRYPTARITHMETIC?
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replaced by asterisks.
In 1864 the first cryptarithm appeared in the USA, in American
Agriculturist.
The word cryptarithmetic ("cryptarithmie" in French) was
introduced by M. Vatriquant, writing under the pseudonym
Minos, in the May 1931 issue of Sphinx, a Belgian magazine of
recreational mathematics published in French from 1931 to
1939.
A type of alphametic addition puzzle termed "doubly-true" was
introduced in 1945 by Alan Wayne. It is made up of "number
words" that, when read, also form a valid sum.
In 1955, J. A. H. Hunter coined the word alphametic to
designate a cryptarithm whose letters form sensible words or
phrases.
The world's best known alphametic puzzle is undoubtedly
SEND + MORE = MONEY. It was created by H. E. Dudeney
and first published in the July 1924 issue of Strand Magazine
associated with the story of a kidnapper's ransom demand.
Modernization by introducing innovations such as computers
and the Internet is making quite an impact on cryptarithmetic.
If you are interested in knowing more about this revolution
read the article Will cryptarithmetic survive innovation?
1. Preparation
Rewrite the problem, expanding the interlinear space to make
room for trial numbers that will be written under the letters.
S E N D
9 5 6 7
+ M O R E
1 0 8 5
---------
M O N E Y
1 0 6 5 2
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C O U N T
- C O I N
---------
S N U B
must be read from the bottom to the top and from the right to
the left, as if it were this series of additions:
B + N = T + C1
U + I = N + C2
N + O = U + C3
S + C = O + C4
C1, C2, C3 and C4 are the carry-overs of "0" or "1" that are to
be added to the next column to the left.
* * * A * * * B
+ * * * A + * * * A
------- -------
* * * A * * * B
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* A * * * B * *
+ * A * * + * A * *
------- -------
* A * * * B * *
Look for left hand digits. If single, they are probably "1".
S E N D
+ M O R E
---------
M O N E Y
"M" can only equal 1, because it is the "carry 1" from the
column S+M=O (+10). In other words, every time an addition
of "n" digits gives a total of "n+1" digits, the left hand digit of
the total must be "1".
C O U N T
- C O I N
---------
S N U B
In this multiplication:
M A D
B E
-------
M A D
R A E
-------
A M I D
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K T
--------
N E T / L I N K
N E T
-------
K E K K
K T E C
-------
K E Y
4 x 1 = 4
7 x 1 = 7
2 x 6 = 2 (+10)
8 x 6 = 8 (+40)
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3 x 0 = 0
6 x 0 = 0
7 x 5 = 5 (+30)
9 x 5 = 5 (+40)
K M
----------
A K A / D A D D Y
D Y N A
---------
A R M Y
A R K A
-------
R A
II. M x A K A = A R K A
III. D A D D
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- D Y N A
---------
A R M
IV. A R M Y
- A R K A
---------
R A
This pattern suggests A=0 or A=5. But a look at the divisor "A
K A" reveals that A=0 is impossible, because leading letters
cannot be zero. Hence A=5.
5 R M Y
- 5 R K 5
---------
R 5
You can see that K=7 is the only viable solution that matches
the current pattern of multiplication I, yielding:
K x A K A = D Y N A
7 5 7 5 4 0 2 5
This solution also identifies two other variables: D=4 and N=2.
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This is the exception and not the rule. Most frequently after
decoding 1 or 2 letters (and sometimes none) you get stuck. To
make progress we must apply the generate-and-test method,
which consists of the following procedures:
T A K E
A
+ C A K E
----------
K A T E
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T 9 8 1 CYCLE A E K C T
9 ========================
+ 0 9 8 1 #1 9 1 8 [0]
----------
8 9 T 1
T 9 7 1 CYCLE A E K C T
9 ========================
+ 1 9 7 1 #1 9 1 8 [0]
---------- #2 9 1 7 [1]
7 9 T 1
So, we have got the final solution to the problem, stopping the
routine "generate-and-test".
3 9 6 1 CYCLE A E K C T
9 ========================
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+ 2 9 6 1 #1 9 1 8 [0]
---------- #2 9 1 7 [1]
6 9 3 1 #3 9 1 6 2 3
1. Geoffrey Mott-Smith
In "Mathematical Puzzles for Beginners & Enthusiasts"©
S E N D
+ M O R E
------------
M O N E Y
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2. Steven Kahan
In "Take a Look at a Good Book"©
E A T
+ T H A T
------------
A P P L E
3. J. A. H. Hunter
In "Entertaining Mathematical Teasers and How to Solve Them"©
N O
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G U N
+ N O
----------
H U N T
Obviously H = 1.
4. Maxey Brooke
In "150 Puzzles In Crypt-Arithmetic"©
A B C
x D E
----------
F E C
D E C
----------
H G B C
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5. Joseph S. Madachy
In "Madachy´s Mathematical Recreations"©
(B E) (B E) = M O B
6. C. R. Wylie Jr.
In "101 Puzzles in Thought & Logic"©
A L E
x R U M
----------
W I N E
W U W L
E W W E
-------------
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E R M P N E
A L E R U M W I N P
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0 5
A L E R U M W I N P
3 2 1
5 4 2
7 6 3
9 8 4
Now in the third column from the left in the example the sum
of the digits W, U, and W must be more than 9, since 1 had to
be carried over from this column into the column on the left.
The values in the first two rows of the array are too low for
this, however, hence we can cross out both of these lines.
MORE ON CRYPTARITHM
SOLVING
There is an incredibly useful Web resource where you can get
a complete course on cryptarithm solving: Introduction to
Cryptarithms I, II and III by LEDGE. These lectures are
included in the Classical Cryptography Course by Lanaki,
sponsored by the American Cryptogram Association (ACA).
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GLOSSARY
ALPHAMETIC
A cryptarithm in which the letters, which represent distinct
digits, form related words or meaningful phrases. The word
"alphametic" was coined by J. A. H. Hunter in 1955.
CIPHER
To write in code. Same as to encode.
CRYPT or CRYPTO
Prefix denoting hidden [from Greek kryptein to hide].
CRYPTANALYSIS
The steps and operations performed in deciphering a
cryptarithm without initial knowledge of the key employed in
the encryption.
CRYPTARITHM
A number puzzle in which an indicated arithmetical operation
has some or all of its digits replaced by letters or symbols, and
where the restoration of the original digits is required. Each
letter represents a unique digit.
CRYPTARITHMETIC
The science and art of studying cryptarithms, known centuries
ago as "letter arithmetic" or "verbal arithmetic". The term
"crypt-arithmetic" was first introduced by M. Vatriquant,
writing under the pseudonym "Minos", in the May 1931 issue
of Sphinx, a Belgian magazine on recreational mathematics.
DECIPHER
To convert from a coded form to ordinary language; decode.
DIGIMETIC
A cryptarithm in which digits represent other digits.
DIGIT
In the decimal system, one of the numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.
DOUBLY-TRUE
A type of alphametic addition puzzle introduced in 1945 by
Alan Wayne. It is made up of "number words" that, when read,
also form a valid sum. Example: ONE + TWO + FIVE =
EIGHT is a "doubly-true".
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ENCIPHER
To write something in code. Same as encode.
ENCRYPTION
The translation of a cryptarithm into a code.
EVEN NUMBER
An integer that is divisible by 2.
INTEGER
One of the numbers ..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...
KEY
A table consisting of each of the letters used in a cryptarithm,
paired with its numerical equivalent.
ODD NUMBER
An integer that is not divisible by 2.
SKELETONS
Puzzles in which most or all of the digits have been replaced
by asterisks to form a cryptarithm. Also termed arithmetical
restorations, they were probably invented in India during the
Middle Ages.
REFERENCES
Ball, W. W. Rouse and Coxeter, H. S. M.,
Mathematical Recreations and Essays, Dover, New
York, 1987, ISBN 0-486-25357-0.
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[ Home ]
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[ Sphinx memorial ]
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