November 2011
Problem of the Month

Set the Clock Back!
by Raymond Young



In the multiplication problem below, digits have been replaced by letters of the alphabet.

Different letters represent different digits, and identical letters always represent the same digit.

Can you determine the original numbers?

    S E T
x   T H E
- - - - -
  A S C K
C K E    
- - - - -
C L O C K


Hint: Since there are only two rows of numbers between the lines, one of the digits T, H, or E must be a zero!



Solution to the Problem:

A = 1, C = 6, E = 4, H = 0, K = 8,
L = 9, O = 7, S = 3, T = 2

    3 4 2
x   2 0 4
- - - - -
  1 3 6 8
6 8 4    
- - - - -
6 9 7 6 8




Correctly solved by:

1. Math Club at Mount Vernon High School Mount Vernon, Ohio
2. James Alarie Flint, Michigan
3. Chelsea Anglen Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyomng
4. Alp Aribal Istanbul, Turkey


Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher