Barge Math Competition - Spring Semester

Week 1’s Problem: What’s the difference?

Take a four digit number, reverse its digits, and look at the absolute value of the difference of the two, like so: | 3467 – 7643 | = 4176.

Can you ever get 2006 as the answer?

Here’s what you have to do:

1. Form a team with other Lafayette students. Each team must have 3, 4, or 5 members.

2. Solve the "Problem of the Week" with your team. The weekly problem will be posted in the Math Department on Fridays, and will also appear on the Math Department home page at http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~math/ (Just follow the Department Activities link.) There will be 8 problems during the semester.

3. Get your solution to the Math Department by the weekly deadline.

4. Don't Quit! Keep turning in problems, even if your team isn't 100% sure of your solution.

How to submit your answer:

Bring your solution to the Math Department office in 230 Pardee, or send it by email to Ethan Berkove at berkovee@lafayette.edu. Include your team members' names, email addresses, and graduation year and I’ll make sure you’re on the weekly Team Barge Competition mailing list if you’re not on it already. Problem #1 is due by the end of the day on Friday, February 10.