The Block Challenge


Mr. Block is thinking of a secret number. Your job is to figure it out. To help you, here are ten statements:

  • (0) The number contains exactly 2 different digit values.
  • (1) No 2 digits differ by 4, 5, or 6.
  • (2) More than 1 digit is a square.
  • (3) Exactly 1 digit value appears more than once.
  • (4) All digits are even.
  • (5) The number is a palindrome.
  • (6) No prime digit divides a different-valued digit.
  • (7) No digit value appears more than twice.
  • (8) The number contains all digit values between the largest and smallest.
  • (9) All adjacent digits differ by 1.
    Perhaps I should mention that I never said these are all true statements. While some are true, some are also false. As luck would have it, if a statement is true then its index number (the number to its left) appears among Mr. Block's secret number’s digits, and if a statement is false then its index number does not so appear. For example, if statement (8) is true, then Mr. Block's number has at least one 8 in it. If statement (8) is false, then Block's number has no 8s in it. Good luck!

  • Solutions can be emailed to warblock@yahoo.com, dropped off at 1211 during classroom hours. Please write neatly and clearly, including your name and class Thanks to Doug Shaw, University of Northern Iowa for providing the format.