The answer to the problem is 45678. You arrive at this by subtracting one number from another. The two numbers must contain the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. You must use each of these digits once, but only once.
What two numbers do you subtract to arrive at this answer?


Solution:

There are 24 solutions:

 

48,615 - 02,937 = 45,678 48,651 - 02,973 = 45,678 57,984 - 12,306 = 45,678 58,047 - 12,369 = 45,678 58,074 - 12,396 = 45,678 59,406 - 13,728 = 45,678 59,460 - 13,782 = 45,678 63,582 - 17,904 = 45,678 65,382 - 19,704 = 45,678 69,783 - 24,105 = 45,678 70,359 - 24,681 = 45,678 70,539 - 24,861 = 45,678 75,138 - 29,460 = 45,678 75,318 - 29,640 = 45,678 75,894 - 30,216 = 45,678 80,295 - 34,617 = 45,678 82,095 - 36,417 = 45,678 86,217 - 40,539 = 45,678 86,271 - 40,593 = 45,678 87,603 - 41,925 = 45,678 87,630 - 41,952 = 45,678 87,693 - 42,015 = 45,678 97,026 - 51,348 = 45,678 97,062 - 51,384 = 45,678

Click here to see Richard Johnson's computer program
Click here to see Chip Schweikarth's computer program



Correctly solved by:

1. Richard Johnson * La Jolla, California
2. Rick Jones Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
3. Bill Hall Wellington, Florida
4. Chip Schweikarth * Winchester, Virginia
5. David Powell * Winchester, Virginia
6. Bob Hearn Winchester, Virginia
7. George Gaither * Winchester, Virginia
8. Greg Harris Winchester, Virginia
9. Walt Arrison Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10. Erin McGinnis Winchester, Virginia
* Wrote computer programs in C++ to solve the problem