CRYPTARITHMETIC

CRYPTARITHMETIC
• Introduction
• Basic Rules

INTRODUCTION

Cryptarithmetic problems are where numbers

are replaced with alphabets. By using standard
arithmetic rules, we need to decipher the
alphabet.

What Is Cryptarithmetic?
Cryptarithmetic is the science and art of
creating and solving cryptarithms.

A Cryptarithmetic is a genre of mathematical

puzzle in which the digits are replaced by letters
of the alphabet or other symbols.

The invention of Cryptarithmetic has been

ascribed to ancient China. This art was originally
known as letter arithmetic or verbal arithmetic.
In India, during the Middle Ages, were
developed the arithmetical restorations or
“skeletons” a type of cryptarithms in which most
or all of the digits have been replaced by
asterisks.

The world’s best known alphabetic 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.

KEY POINTS

• Solving a Cryptarithmetic Problem will take

nearly 10-12 minutes in exam. If you can solve

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puzzle, then you can easily answer the 3-

question based on crypt within 2 minutes.
Questions are only based on basic mathematics
like, find the value of A+B+C, or 2A+C or
triangle related questions.
• Each alphabet takes only one number from 0
to 9 uniquely.
• Two single digit numbers sum can be
maximum 19 with carryover. So, carry over in
problems of two number addition is always 1.
• Try to solve left most digit in the given
problem.
• If a × b = kb, then the following are the
possibilities
(3 × 5 = 15; 7 × 5 = 35; 9 × 5 = 45) or (2 × 6
= 12; 4 × 6 = 24; 8 × 6 = 48)

EXAMPLE PROBLEM

1. The following questions are based on the

following multiplication, where each digit has
been replaced by an alphabet.

1. Find the value of J and A.

2. If E = 4, what is the value of D?

Explanation:
From the first two of multiplication, you can
clearly say that B = 1, as JE x B = JE. From the
second row of multiplication, A = 0 as in the
multiplication, second row should start from
tenth's place. So, A = 0. Now in the hundred's
place, J + Something = 10. When you add
something to the single digit number that
results in 10. So, J = 9. Now from the above
table, we cannot determine values of E and D,
but we can say, that E and D, are consecutive.
As it is given that E = 4, we can say D = 3.

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PRACTICE PROBLEMS (EXPLANATORY ANSWERS AT THE END)

1. From the multiplication below, what is the

value of NAME?

2. Decipher the following multiplication table

3. If SEND + MORE = MONEY, then find the

respective values

4. Find the values of all the alphabets if each

alphabet represents a single digit from 0 – 9

5. Find the alphabets in the following

multiplication

6. Find the values of A, B and C if ABC=A! +B!

+C! ABC=A! + B! + C! where ABC is a three-

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digit number

7. Find the values of A, B and C

if ABC=A3+B3+C3ABC=A3+B3+C3 where ABC
is a three-digit number.

SOLUTION WITH EXPLNATORY ANSWER

1. From the first row of multiplication, H =1 is

clear, As HE x H = HE. Substitute H = 1 in all
places. Now from the tenth's place, think about,
the value of A. 1 + A = M. If M is a single digit
number, then N = 1, which is impossible
(Already we have given H = 1). So, A = 9, Then
M = 0, and N = 2. Now 1E x E = 119. So, by
trial and error E = 7.
Therefore, NAME = 2907

2.
Step 1: What could be the value of A which is
the left most digit in the answer? From the
second row of multiplication, we know that A X
E = A. So, A cannot be 1.
From the tenth's place addition, I + A = A. So,
I = 0. Now from the Ten-thousand's place
addition, 1 + G + 0 = A. So, G = 1 and A = 2.

Step 2: From the second row of multiplication,

2 x E = 2, Also from first row of multiplication T
X E = 2.
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So, E should take 6, and T should take 7. (These

are the only possibilities)
If E= 6, then E x T = 6 x 7 = 42. So, 4 carry
over. Now 7 x Y + 4 = 0. So, Y = 8.

Now S = 4 as 7 x 6 + 6 = 48. Also, M = 3.

Final answer looks like this:

3. Addition of two numbers with 'n' digits,

results in a n+1 digits, then the left most place
always = 1.
So, M=1. Substitute this value.
Now 'o' cannot be 1 as M already 1. It may not
be 2 either as S+1 = 12 or 1 + S + 1 = 12 in
the both cases S is a two-digit number. So 'o' is
nothing but zero. Put o = 0.
Now S can be either 8 or 9. If S = 8, then there
must be a carry over.
E + 0 = 10 + N or 1 + E + 0 = 10 + N
In the above two cases, E - N = 10 is not
possible and E - N = 9 not possible as N cannot
be zero.
So, E = 9.
Now E + 0 = N is not possible as E = N. So 1 +
E = N possible.

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The possible cases are, N + R = 10 + E - - - (1)

or 1 + N + R = 10 + E - - - (2)
Substituting E = N -1 in the first equation, N +
R = 10 + N - 1, we get R = 9 which is not
possible.
Substituting E = N - 1 in the second equation, 1
+ N + R = 10 + N - 1, we get R = 8.

We know that N and E are consecutive, and N is

larger. Take (N, E) = (7, 6) check and
substitute, you wont get any unique value for D.
Take (N, E) = (6, 5), Now you get D = 7, Y = 2.

4. Let us name the columns as below

We know that sum of two single digit alphabets

should not cross 18, and maximum difference
between two alphabets is 9.
If we add two maximum 4-digit numbers the
sum is maximum 19998. So, the digit in the 5th
left is 1.
Now from the 1st column 1 + E = 1F; if there is
any carry over from the 2nd column 1 + 1 + E
= 1F
But 1F is a two-digit number in alphanumeric is
equal to 10 + F
So 1+E=10+F⇒E−F=91+E=10+F⇒E−F=9
From this relation we know that E = 9, F = 0
or
1+1+E=10+F⇒E−F=81+1+E=10+F⇒E−F=8
E = 9, F = 1 or E = 8, F = 0
From the above we can infer that F = 0 but we
don’t know whether E is equal to either 8 or 9.

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But surely F is not equal to 1 as we fixed already

A=1
Now from the 3rd column,
2C= 1 ⇒ C = 1/2
1 + 2C = 1 ⇒ C = 0
If the sum is a two-digit number then
2C = 11 ⇒ C= 11/2
1 + 2C = 11 ⇒ C = 5
From the above C = 1/2 and 11/2 are not
possible nor is 0 possible as we fixed F = 0
If C = 5 the A = 1 and there is a carry over to
the left column. and also there must be carry
over from the first column, but we don’t know 1
+ 2B is a single digit or two digit number

From the second and fourth columns

1+2B = G - - - - (1) or 1 + 2B = 10 + G - - -
(2)
D + B = 10 + G - - - (3)
Solving (1) and (3) we get D - B = 11 which is
not possible
But If we solve (2) and (3) then we get D - B =
1
So, D and B are consecutive numbers and their
sum is more than 10. So acceptable values are
D = 7 and B = 6
This completes our problem so final table looks
like the following

5. This is a tough question as there are total 9

different alphabets are used.
Step 1: K + A = A. So, K = 0
Step 2: From the hundreds column, 2B + A =
10 or 20. As 2B, 10, 20 are even, A should be
even. Remember this logic.
Possibilities are, for A and B are (2, 4), (4, 3),
(6, 2), (8, 1) and (2, 9), (4, 8), (6, 7), (8, 6)
In the second row of multiplication, we have
PAS x B = ASAA.
P2S x 4 = 2S22 ⇒S = 3, 8 But both are not
satisfying.
P4S x 3 = 4S44 ⇒S = 8. But P48 x 3 = 4844 is
not possible. Ruled out.
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P6S x 2 = 6S66 ⇒S = 3, 8. But both are not

satisfying. Ruled out.
P2S x 9 = 2S22 ⇒S = 8 But P28 x 9 = 2822 is
not possible. Ruled out.
P4S x 8 = 4S44 ⇒S = 3. This is possible as P43
x 8 = 4344 then P = 5.
P6S x 7 = 6S66 ⇒S = 8 But P68 x 7 = 6866 is
not possible. Ruled out.
P8S x 6 = 8S88 ⇒S = 3, 8 But both are not
satisfying. Ruled out.
Therefore, S = 3, P = 5, A = 4, B = 8.

From the above diagram, R = 6 and E = 2. and

A = 7 and W = 1.
Final Solution:

6. By symmetry, we take A is the maximum

number of the three alphabets.
Let us say A can take a maximum value of 6.
Then 6! = 720 but as have we taken maximum
value is 6 720 is not possible
So, A should take 5. Then 5! = 120
Now from the above we know that one the B
and C should take 1 as their value as 120
consists of 1.
⇒⇒ 5! + 1! = 121
If we take 4 as one of the number, then 5! + 1!
+ 4! = 145 or 1! + 4! + 5! = 145

7. Let us say maximum value of A, B, C is equal

to 4 then we don’t get any satisfactory values
for ABC

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If we take maximum value is 5 then A3A3 =

5353 = 125 as this is a three-digit number one
of the number is equal to 1.
⇒⇒ 53+1353+13 = 126. Now for 3333 we get
153=13+53+33153=13+53+33
From the above reasoning the other numbers
satisfy the above relation are 370, 371 and 407.

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