Calcrostic Puzzle
We call these problems calcrostic because they are showing calculations in a form similar to acrostic word puzzles. The color in the puzzle is used to indicate the computations in the rows, columns and diagonals. In a calcrostic, like
ab × cd = ebaf
+ × ÷ ÷ −
egf × h = hdc
= = = = =
ejc × k = bfj
each letter represents a digit (one of 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9).
Equal letters represent equal digits, different letters represent
different digits. The 9 resulting numbers
ab, cd, ebaf, egf, h, hdc, ejc, k, bfj
may have more than one digit (for example, ab is a 2-digit
number) and are arranged in a 3 × 3 square as above. These
numbers satisfy 3 horizontal, 3 vertical and 2 diagonal relations
(like the diagonal relation ab × h = bfj where
× stands for multiplication and ÷ for
division. The problem is to find the value of each letter.
For example, the puzzle above has the solution
54 × 27 = 1458
+ × ÷ ÷ −
108 × 9 = 972
= = = = =
162 × 3 = 486
Simpler versions of this type of puzzle will appear in future
caribou contests, starting January 2010.
Have fun!