October 2023
Problem of the Month
Mailbox Numbers
Submitted by K. Sengupta
A new subdivision is being constructed along a long road with hundreds of houses.
The houses are all numbered in order starting with the number 1, so they proceed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... down the long road.
All of the people go to the hardware store to buy numbers for their mailbox, and they line up in order at the counter.
The store, unfortunately, has only 100 of each digit available.
Which homeowner will be the first who cannot buy the complete number for his mailbox?