Alphametic Numbers: Definition, Applications, and Examples

Publish Date: 08 Aug, 2023

Table of Content

01. What are alphabetical numbers?
02. Characteristics of Alphametic Numbers
03. Applications of Alphametic Numbers
04. Examples of Alphametic Numbers

Alphametic numbers are interesting puzzles that contain arithmetic and wordplay in numerical puzzles. The substitution of letters for digits in these puzzles, also known as verbal arithmetic, creates a particular difficulty for those who must discover the numerical values in order to answer the equation.

One of the most well-known puzzles ever created was initially presented by the renowned mathematician “Henry Ernest Dudeney”.

What are alphabetical numbers?

Alphametic numbers are mathematical puzzles that take part in substituting letters with digits to make a logical arithmetic equation. It is also known as cryptarithms / verbal arithmetic.

The word "Alphametic" is a mixture of the words "Alphabet" and "Arithmetic," showing the replacement of letters for numbers. The puzzle repeatedly uses an equation involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, or a combination of these operations.

The test lies in defining the best digit-to-letter correspondence which makes the equation remain mathematically accurate. Every word in this puzzle shows an unlike number from 0 to 9, and the purpose is to find the numerical values that assure the equation.

Characteristics of Alphametic Numbers

Some characteristics of Alphametic numbers are as follows:

Mental activation and entertainment

Alphametic numbers help the learner to think critically, understand mathematics deeply, and sharpen the memory of the learner, also provide entertainment so that a learner does not feel bored and can easily solve this puzzle.

Linguistic and mathematical fusion

Alphametic numbers are these numbers that are the combinations of words and mathematical operations plus numbers. The words used in alphametic numbers made a very clear sense and the result that you get also had a very clear sense.

Multiple solutions and unique solution

Alphametic numbers have multiple solutions or the solution can be unique. The solution of alphametic numbers depends on the understanding of the puzzle either it gives you multiple solutions or it gives you a unique or distinct solution.

Trial and error

Trial and error are iterative process in which we used the numbers in different positions to make a new alphametic number. This is also known as the deduction test in alphametic numbers.

Mathematical equations

Mathematical equations are represented in alphametic puzzles, including addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division or a combination of these operations. The basic challenge is to find the unique digit that made the equation true.

Letter-to-digit correspondence

When using alphametic numbers, each letter in the equation must be given a different number. A single letter shows a single and unique letter and we can’t use the same number again in the letter. This correspondence serves as the puzzle's base and is key to identifying a reasonable answer.

Applications of Alphametic Numbers

Recreational and Educational Puzzles
Mathematical Education
Rational Skills Development
Code breaking
Problem-Solving Techniques
Algorithm Development

Recreational and Educational Puzzles

Alphametic numbers are vastly used in competitive puzzles, brain twisters, and educational activities. They attract souls of all ages to resolve mathematical equations in a lively and amusing manner. Alphametic puzzles encourage critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and mathematical smoothness.

Mathematical Education

Alphametic numbers work as training tools in mathematical education. They assist students to grow in numerical logic, logical thinking, and concepts of algebra.

By operating letters as variables and digits, students use arithmetic operations, understand designs of numbers, and increase their knowledge of equations and algebraic equations.

Rational skills development

By studying of Alphametic numbers or a complete understanding of these numbers made you able to think rationally, which means that understanding alphametic numbers gives you strength in your brain to think logically, and identify patterns. These puzzles help your brain to work in a sharp manner.

Code breaking

Alphametic numbers are used to break a code that’s the reason these numbers are also known as cryptography. Alphametic numbers are used to decode the message which is written in the form of alphabets.

Problem-solving techniques

These numbers help the user to solve a problem in a very efficient way. These numbers provide you the technique to solve a problem and you can easily find the bugs and can easily fix them by using these techniques.

Algorithm development

Alphametic numbers are used to make step-by-step procedures to solve a problem. Algorithm development works as a backbone in problem-solving.

Examples of Alphametic Numbers

Some examples of alphametic numbers are as follows:

Example 1:

The solution of the given example is given below.

ELEVEN + NINE + FIVE + FIVE = THIRTY

Solution:

Step 1: Analyze the equation.

To analyze the equation, we have to determine this.

Recognize the letters that are taken apart, E, L, V, N, I, F.

Step 2: Deductive logic.

The logic of deduction depends on these things.

Note that the sum of the four single-digit numbers is THIRTY. Therefore, E + N + F + F = T.
Now see the largest possible value for E + N + F + F is 27 (9 + 9 + 9 + 9). Since, T = THIRTY, the value of E + N + F + F must be less than or equal to 27.

Step 3: Trial and error.

Start allocating value to the most artificial letters. In this case, let’s allocate T = 9, as it is the largest possible value.
By putting T = 9 into the equation:

ELEVEN + NINE + FIVE + FIVE =9HIRTY.

Step 4: By merging the above two steps 3 and 4.

As E + N + F + F = 9, we are required to detect a single-digit number that sums up to 9.
The achievable standards for E, N, F, and F are 1, 2, 3, and 3 (in few order).
Let’s put E = 1, N = 2, F = 3, and F = 3

1LEVEN + 2INE + 3IVE + 3IVE = 9HIRTY.

Step 5: Confirmation and verification.