=====Walkthrough===== Following will be a walkthrough (the documentation in a form acceptable for submission, provided as an example of both the form I'd like to see submissions in, but also providing illumination in the process of solving a letter division puzzle) of the following puzzle: ??????? +-------- LIMNM | MEEFVLF -LIMNM ===== TTVLFL -TBJBMW ====== TLLVNF -TBJBMW ====== ?????? base: 11 letters: BEFIJLMNTVW difficulty: medium The intent of the documentation (and therefore the project you are performing) is NOT merely to SOLVE the problem, but to document the step-by-step process of solving the problem. That is demonstrated here. As this is a puzzle encoded in a base OTHER THAN 10, a few considerations have to be kept in mind. First, in base 11 the available counting digits are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 AND A. In addition to the familiar 0-9, the letter A is now a number, whose quantity is equivalent to that of the one in decimal we lovingly call "ten". As 8+1 = 9, 9+1 = A, A+1=10. Because A is the last counting digit available, when we exhaust the digits, we cycle to 0 and carry 1. 10 base 11 is the quantity we know of in base 10 as "eleven". However, 10 base 11 should be pronounced and thought of as "one zero base elevent", and NOT "ten". Ten is a decimal (base 10) construct, and 10 base 10 does NOT equal 10 base 11. Having an extra number (A) means any memorized mathematical facts, especially with respect to carried/multi-place values, are no longer valid. The same properties and concepts are there, but the results will be different (quantities remain the same, representations will differ). Being on odd base, that also means that all even and odd numbers do not end with an even or odd digit (some certainly do, in alternating fashion of runs of counts of 11). ====Getting underway==== Looking for anything to get us started, let's look at a couple layers of the left-most subtractions: * M-L=T * because the term being subtracted (LIMNM) is the same length as the divisor (indeed, exactly the same!), not only can we make the usual assertions of: * L << M * T << M * we can also state that while LIMNM is a smaller quantity than MEEFV that TTVLF is SMALLER than both MEEFV AND LIMNM. So, we can instead optimize our assertions to: * T << L << M * T-T=zero (no take) * T-B=T * B is 0 (no borrow, no take) * V-J=L (no borrow, unkrown presently on take) * J << V * L << V * and since we know something already about L, that most recent one can be further expanded: * T << L << V Our initial relational chains: T << L << M T << L << V J << V Our chart: B = { 0 } E = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } F = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } I = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } J = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } L = { 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 } M = { 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } N = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } T = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 } V = { 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } W = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } ====Diving deeper==== In the middle row, we have an additional revealing subtraction by zero, a further opportunity for gathering some clues. L-B-L, which clues us in to the fact it is not borrowing, AND it is not being taken from. This means that for the V-J=L subtraction, there's no borrow nor take. Then, for the F-M=V subtraction, we now know there's no borrow, so: * M << F * V << F This is a nice further expansion of our existing assertions: T << L << M << F T << L << V << F J << V << F Our chart: B = { 0 } E = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } F = { 6, 7, 8, 9, A } I = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } J = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 } L = { 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 } M = { 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } N = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } T = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 } V = { 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } W = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } ====New clues from existing clues==== Looking for further clues, a look at the top row subtractions has us wuth our eyes on both the rightmost subtractions of: * F-N=L * V-M=F We know things about letters in both subtractions! * L << F, so: N << F (F does not borrow) * Both V and M are less than F, so: * V borrows * V << M We can finally merge two similar assertions: T << L << V << M << F J << V << M << F N << F Our chart: B = { 0 } E = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } F = { 7, 8, 9, A } I = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } J = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 } L = { 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 } M = { 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } N = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } T = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 } V = { 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 } W = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } ====Discovery through similarity==== There are two strikingly similar subtractions present in the puzzle, from the top row E-M=V, and the second row F-M=V. Notice how, despite the different top letter, the bottom two letters with the subtraction are identical? We could say that: * M+V = F * M+V = E Clearly, two letters cannot have the same value, BUT, this is providing a clue that: * E and F (or F and E) are next to each other. We don't yet know which is the correct order. * that means one is taken from, and the other is not. Now, in the case of E-M=V, we do happen to know something about that next subtraction to its right, F-N=L. We know that F is larger than N or L. Therefore: * In the case of E-M=V, E is not borrowing, nor is it being taken from. * In the case of F-M=V, F is not borrowing, but it is being taken from. * F-1 = E, so E < F Our relational chains: T << L << V << M << E < F J << V << M << E < F N << E < F Our updated chart: B = { 0 } E = { 7, 8, 9 } F = { 8, 9, A } I = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } J = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 } L = { 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 } M = { 5, 6, 7, 8 } N = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 } T = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 } V = { 4, 5, 6, 7 } W = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A } ====Continuing to connect clues==== With our most recent discovery, we can now dive deeper into the rightmost second row subtraction of L-W=N, since we now know it HAS to borrow: * L << W * L << N Furthermore, since we know from the top row E-M=V that E does not borrow, and from referencing our relational chain, we know that T << E, we can do some work on the top row E-I=T subtraction too, namely: * E does not borrow (because E is bigger than T) * E does not get taken from. * I << E Further updates to our relational chains: T << L << W T << L << V << M << E < F J << V << M << E < F T << L << N << E < F I << E < F Our updated chart: B = { 0 } E = { 8, 9 } F = { 9, A } I = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 } J = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 } L = { 2, 3, 4 } M = { 5, 6, 7, 8 } N = { 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 } T = { 1, 2, 3 } V = { 4, 5, 6, 7 } W = { 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, A } Some things of note: * We were able to whittle down the possibilities for E and F to just two values, allowing for the elimination of 9 as a possibility for any other value. * Either F or W is the largest value, A. ====Eliminating some possibilities==== We are down to three candidates for 1: I, J, or T. Let's see if we cannot rule any of them out. In the top-row subtraction E-I=T, we know that E is larger. We have since put those into our relational chain assertions, and we can use that now: T << L << V << M << E < F I << E < F Specifically, T can NOT be ONE less than E. At this point, T is at least FOUR values less than E. So: I cannot be 1. For that matter, I cannot be 2 or 3 either. On the flip side, with T currently reduced to 1, 2, or 3, we can cut down on possibilities for I as well, since by our knowledge of T's range, I is not able to be more than 3 less than E. Also, if we explore what we currently know about J (V-J=L, where V is not borrowing nor is being taken from): T << L << V << M << E < F J << V << M << E < F We see that it is possible for J or L to be one less than V by what we do know about them. But, notice how L is limited to just 2, 3, or 4. So, the letter J is NOT able to be one less than V. Best it can be is 2 less than V, and as great as 4 less than. V = { 4, 5, 6, 7 } J = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 } L = { 2, 3, 4 } From looking at these known limits to their ranges, in no valid possible combination can J be 6, right? So, we were able to polish off a few possibilities: B = { 0 } E = { 8, 9 } F = { 9, A } I = { 5, 6, 7, 8 } J = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 } L = { 2, 3, 4 } M = { 5, 6, 7, 8 } N = { 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 } T = { 1, 2, 3 } V = { 4, 5, 6, 7 } W = { 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, A } Still, J's range is too broad. ====Building some equation systems==== Calling upon another trick, let us build some equations that may further help us determine possibilities. Please take note of the top row subtraction: V-M=F (no take) and the second row subtraction: F-M=V (is being taken from) Notice how for the letter pair F, V, in each subtraction, one is on top, and in the other, the other is at the top? We can use that, with knowledge of the takes, to build the following equation (basically, add the two remaining letters together, and that equals the puzzle base minus the number of takes): * (F, V) M + M = 10 - 1 = A Hey, M is 5! And because V << M, once we rule out the possibilities, V is 4! B = { 0 } E = { 8, 9 } F = { 9, A } I = { 6, 7, 8 } J = { 1, 2, 3 } L = { 2, 3 } M = { 5 } N = { 3, 6, 7, 8 } T = { 1, 2 } V = { 4 } W = { 3, 6, 7, 8, A } We can now go back and plug in additional values into equations, starting with the no borrow, no take E-M=V subtraction in the top row: * E - M = V * E = V + M * E = 4 + 5 * E = 9 As E is exactly one less than F, F is A. And in V-J=L (no borrow, no take), we can determine that J cannot be 3. Our updated chart: B = { 0 } E = { 9 } F = { A } I = { 6, 7, 8 } J = { 1, 2 } L = { 2, 3 } M = { 5 } N = { 3, 6, 7, 8 } T = { 1, 2 } V = { 4 } W = { 3, 6, 7, 8 } Take note of how J and T are limited in possibility to only two values, and in fact the SAME two values (1 or 2). Therefore, nothing else can be 1 or 2, which inadvertently lets us solve for L (3): B = { 0 } E = { 9 } F = { A } I = { 6, 7, 8 } J = { 1, 2 } L = { 3 } M = { 5 } N = { 6, 7, 8 } T = { 1, 2 } V = { 4 } W = { 6, 7, 8 } ... and then plug back into our V-J=L subtraction, knowing there's no borrow, no take, and knowing the values for V and L, we now have our J (and then also, T!) * V - J = L * V = L + J * V - L = J * 4 - 3 = 1 * J is 1! * T is 2! B = { 0 } E = { 9 } F = { A } I = { 6, 7, 8 } J = { 1 } L = { 3 } M = { 5 } N = { 6, 7, 8 } T = { 2 } V = { 4 } W = { 6, 7, 8 } ====Solving for the remaining letters==== Getting the remaining letters (I, N, W) is simply a matter of plugging into subtractions where we know enough about the other letters involved: * E-I=T (no borrow, no take) * E =T+I * E-T=I * 9-2=I * 7=I * F-1-N=L (no borrow, but a take) * F-1 =L+N * F-1-L=N * A-1-3=N * 9 -3=N * 6=N ... and there we go: B = { 0 } E = { 9 } F = { A } I = { 7 } J = { 1 } L = { 3 } M = { 5 } N = { 6 } T = { 2 } V = { 4 } W = { 8 } The puzzle key: 0 B 1 J 2 T 3 L 4 V 5 M 6 N 7 I 8 W 9 E A F And there we go, puzzle solved. Now to verify: ====Determining the quotient==== With the solve4 puzzles, the verification step is determining of the quotient and remainder. Here we will determine the quotient of the puzzle, through performing multiplication on the divisor: LIMNM x 1 (J) = LIMNM LIMNM x 2 (T) = IVBJF LIMNM x 3 (L) = JBBMWV LIMNM x 4 (V) = JLWBLE LIMNM x 5 (M) = JIVMFL LIMNM x 6 (N) = TBJBMW <-- hey, it matches a subtrahend (indeed, 2!) So, all we need to do is match our subtrahends, in order from top to bottom, with the divisor factors here, and list them. Our quotient is: JNN ====Determining the remainder==== With the solve4 puzzles, the verification step is determining of the quotient and remainder. Here we will determine the remainder of the puzzle, through performing math on the bottom row: TLLVNF -TBJBMW ====== Which can be split into 6 separate subtractions: T L L V N F -T B J B M W = = = = = = And knowing the state of the individual borrows/takes: x T x L x L x V x N x F x -T B J B M W = = = = = = In this case there are no borrows or takes, so we can just do straightforward (non-borrowing) subtractions: x T x L x L x V x N x F x -T B J B M W = = = = = = L T V J T So, our remainder is: LTVJT With that, for verification on this puzzle, we merely need to provide: JNN:LTVJT This puzzle is now complete.