Last winter I found myself locked out of my house because I couldn’t remember the 5-digit code to open the garage door. I used the following facts to get inside.
1. The second and third digits add up to 9.
2. The first digit is equal to the second digit cubed.
3. The sum of the third and fifth digits is the smallest number with exactly five divisors.
4. The fourth digit is equal to 6 times the second-to-last digit.
5. None of the digits repeat.
If we label each digit a, b, c, d and e, we get the following equations.
1. b + c = 9
2. a = b3
3. c + e = 16 (since 16 is the smallest number with five divisors – 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16).
4. d = 6 * d (The fourth and second-to-last digits are the same number, meaning d must be zero to satisfy the equation)
5. b must be zero, one or two (b can’t be three because that makes a=27, which isn’t a single digit). Zero and one result in duplicate digits (00907 and 11808 respectively) so the only remaining value for b is 2, giving us 82709 and warmth.
@Pete The number must have exactly 5 divisors. 12 has 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12.
Superwhiz Maths Person (also neutral as to not offend those who have a complex of themselves and others) says March 10, 2018 @ 21:27
I had another code. It is called the homeowners code of conduct.
1= It is my house, it is my brick, it is my window
2= It is my lock, it is my lockpick set
3= It is my door, it is my foot, it is my shoulder, it is my health
After I entered the house, I opened up the garage door from the inside, and reset the code.
Superwhiz Maths Person (also neutral as to not offend those who have a complex of themselves and others) says March 10, 2018 @ 21:28
I mean seriously, why would he remember all those details but not know the code? It isn’t like a person’s name or anything…
4 Comments on "Code in the Cold"
Pete says
November 18, 2014 @ 09:08
I got 82705 as 12 is the lowest numbers with five divisors (1, 2, 3, 4, 6).
Dan says
November 18, 2014 @ 09:24
@Pete The number must have exactly 5 divisors. 12 has 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12.
Superwhiz Maths Person (also neutral as to not offend those who have a complex of themselves and others) says
March 10, 2018 @ 21:27
I had another code. It is called the homeowners code of conduct.
1= It is my house, it is my brick, it is my window
2= It is my lock, it is my lockpick set
3= It is my door, it is my foot, it is my shoulder, it is my health
After I entered the house, I opened up the garage door from the inside, and reset the code.
Superwhiz Maths Person (also neutral as to not offend those who have a complex of themselves and others) says
March 10, 2018 @ 21:28
I mean seriously, why would he remember all those details but not know the code? It isn’t like a person’s name or anything…
Leave a comment