Polydivisible Number/Examples/381,654,729
Theorem
The integer $381 \, 654 \, 729$ is the only polydivisible number which is penholodigital.
Proof
First it is demonstrated that indeed $381 \, 654 \, 729$ has this property:
\(\ds 3\) | \(=\) | \(\ds 1 \times 3\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds 38\) | \(=\) | \(\ds 2 \times 19\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds 381\) | \(=\) | \(\ds 3 \times 127\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds 3816\) | \(=\) | \(\ds 4 \times 954\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds 38 \, 165\) | \(=\) | \(\ds 5 \times 7633\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds 381 \, 654\) | \(=\) | \(\ds 6 \times 63 \, 609\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds 3 \, 816 \, 547\) | \(=\) | \(\ds 7 \times 545 \, 221\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds 38 \, 165 \, 472\) | \(=\) | \(\ds 8 \times 4 \, 770 \, 684\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds 381 \, 654 \, 729\) | \(=\) | \(\ds 9 \times 42 \, 406 \, 081\) |
$\Box$
It remains to be demonstrated that it is the only such number.
Let $\sqbrk {abcdefghi}$ be a polydivisible number which is penholodigital.
- $e = 5$
- $b, d, f, h$ are even.
Hence:
- $a, c, g, i$ are odd.
- $a + b + c$, $d + 5 + f$, $g + h + i$ are divisible by $3$.
- $\sqbrk {fgh}$ is divisible by $8$.
Because $f$ is even:
- $\sqbrk {f00}$ is divisible by $8$.
We must therefore have:
- $\sqbrk {gh}$ divisible by $8$.
Thus:
- $\sqbrk {gh}$ must be one of $16, 32, 72, 96$.
Because $i$ is odd and $g + h + i$ are divisible by $3$:
- $\sqbrk {ghi}$ must be one of $321, 327, 723, 729, 963$.
- $\sqbrk {cd}$ is divisible by $4$.
Because $c$ is odd:
- $d$ must be $2$ or $6$.
Suppose $h = 6$.
Then $\sqbrk {ghi} = 963$ and $d = 2$.
Since $d + 5 + f$ is divisible by $3$ and $f$ is even:
- $f = 8$
The remaining even number $b$ must be $4$.
So:
- $\sqbrk {abcdefghi} = \sqbrk {a4c258963}$
Thus the only remaining options for $a$ and $c$ are $1$ and $7$.
However, we find that neither $1472589$ nor $7412689$ is divisible by $7$.
Therefore we must have:
- $h = 2$
It follow therefore that:
- $d = 6$
Because $d + 5 + f$ is divisible by $3$, and $f$ is even:
- $f = 4$
The remaining even number $b$ must be $8$.
So:
- $\sqbrk {abcdefghi} = \sqbrk {a8c654g2i}$
Since $a + 8 + c$ is divisible by $3$:
- $\sqbrk {a8c}$ must be one of $183, 189, 381, 387, 783, 789, 981, 987$.
Suppose $g = 3$.
Then:
- $\sqbrk {a8c}$ must be one of $189, 789, 981, 987$.
Inspection of the possible numbers reveals that none of $1896543$, $7896543$, $9816543$, $9876543$ is divisible by $7$.
Suppose $g = 7$.
Then:
- $\sqbrk {a8c}$ must be one of $183, 189, 381, 981$.
Among $1836547$, $1896547$, $3816547$, $9816547$, only $3816547$ is divisible by $7$.
The results follow.
$\blacksquare$
Historical Note
David Wells reports in his $1997$ work Curious and Interesting Numbers, 2nd ed. that this factoid was posted in the The Sunday Times as their brainteaser no. $1040$, by a contributor going by the name Upton, but further details have not been uncovered.
Sources
- 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $381,654,729$