Science
Jun 08, 2026
The Snout for Numbers: A Mathematical Puzzle
A mathematical puzzle is presented where a number N starting with 4, when moved to the end, creates…
The Puzzle
Today's offering is for fans of the number 4. It's a cute puzzle that offers up its solution in an elegant way.
Nose to Tail Mathematics
Nose to tail mathematics
There is a number N beginning with 4 such that moving the 4 to the end of it creates a new number that is a quarter of N.
In other words N is of the form 4[…], where […] is a sequence of digits, and N ÷ 4 = […]4
What is the lowest possible value of N?
The Challenge
HINT. Suppose that N has two digits. If you can't find a solution, suppose that N has three digits. Repeat until the answer pops out.
The Source
Source: Moscow Mathematical Olympiad 1983, via @mathematicsproblems and Kevin Gately
#Mathematics
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#Moscow Mathematical Olympiad
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