There is something very special about the

number 6174. Select any four-digit number

whose digits are not equal, and arrange the
digits to form the largest possible number,
that is, put the digits in decreasing order
from left to right. Then form the reverse of
this number and subtract it from the larger
number. Continue this process by forming
the largest possible number from the
difference and subtracting the reverse. The
example in the following table shows the
process ending with 6174 after five steps.
 Maximun
Step Reverse Difference
Number

1 8421 1248 7173

2 7731 1377 6354

3 6543 3456 3087

4 8730 0378 8352

5 8532 2358 6174

1. If y o u b e gi n w i t h a n y four-digit n u m b e r
w h o s e digits a r e n o t all e qua l , wi l l t he
above process always product 6174?
2. W h a t h a p p e n s w h e n this p r o c e s s is
a p p l i e d t o t hre e - di gi t n u m b e r s w h o s e
di g i t s a r e n o t all e q u a l ? Is t h e r e a
s p e c i a l n u m b e r i n this c a s e ?
3 . W h a t h a p p e n s w h e n t h e p r o c e s s is
a p p l i e d t o five-di gi t n u m b e r s ? Is t he r e a
s p e c i a l n u m b e r i n this c a s e ?
4. Yo u m a y w i s h to continue this
i nv e st i ga t i on f or n u m b e r s w i t h m o r e
digits.
1.

Maximun
Ste Reverse Difference
Number
p
1. 8721 1278 7443

2. 7443 3477 3996

3. 9963 3699 6264

4. 6642 2466 4176

5. 7641 1467 6174

 Maximun
Step Reverse Difference
Number

1. 5432 2345 3087

2. 8730 0378 8352

3. 8532 2358 6174

 2.
Maximun
S Reverse Difference
Number
tep
1. 210 012 198

2. 981 189 792

3. 972 279 693

4. 963 369 594

5. 954 459 495

 Maximun Differenc
Step Reverse
Number e

1. 654 456 198

2. 981 189 792

3. 972 279 693

4. 963 369 594

5. 954 459 495

3.
Step Maximu Reverse Differenc
m e
Number
1. 84321 12348 71973
2. 97731 13779 83952
3. 98532 23589 74943
4. 97443 34479 62962
5. 96624 24669 71955
6. 97551 15579 81972
7. 98721 12789 85932
Step Maximu Reverse Differenc
m e
Number
1. 87651 15678 71973
2. 97731 13779 83952
3. 98532 23589 74943
4. 97443 34479 62964
5. 96624 24469 71955
6. 97551 15579 81972

7. 98721 12789 85932

Prepared by:
Lyra R. Polinares
S u b m i t t e d to:
Prof.Editha Magsino