We just tried random numbers and came across the number 18. It was only 1 off, so we tried 19.
But, there was still another question: is there more than one special numbers?
After a little observation, we noticed 9 was in the ones (units) place both times!
Joseph, from the same school, and May, from Heartlands High School, showed some examples that
worked:
29:
2 + 9 = 11
2 x 9 = 18
11 + 18 = 29
39:
3 + 9 = 12
3 x 9 = 27
12 + 27 = 39
49:
4 + 9 = 13
4 x 9 = 36
13 + 36 = 49
59:
5 + 9 = 14
5 x 9 = 45
14 + 45 = 59
69:
6 + 9 = 15
6 x 9 = 54
15 + 54 = 69
Joanna, Sophie and Gaby from Kings Sutton Primary School discovered these numbers and then moved
on to other sets of special two-digit numbers:
On the first problem we divided up the numbers between the 3 of us and worked on different sections.
Joanna started with 0 to 33, Sophie did 34 to 66 and Gaby did the rest.
Gaby found 69 worked and at about the same time Joanna found that 19 worked. So then we decided to
try every 2 digit number ending in a 9. They all worked.
The algebra was a bit tricky so we looked at the second part and this is what we found:
We found that if you double the tens then the units have to be 8, and if you triple the tens it has to end
in 7.
We then noticed a pattern, as the number we multiplied by increases the units value decreases.
Eddie, from Wilson's School, did use some algebra to explain his results:
Firstly, to make this problem simpler to solve, we can use algebra. This means substituting the first digit
of the special number (the tens digit) for 'a', and substituting the second digit (the units digit) for 'b'.
So, the product of the digits (ab) + the sum of the digits (a + b) must equal the original number (10a + b).
ab + a + b = 10a + b.
If you take away 'b' from both sides this equates to:
ab + a = 10a
Then, if you take away one 'a' from both sides you get:
ab = 9a
This is because 10 lots of 'a' take away one lot of 'a' is 9 lots (9a).
b=9
This means the second digit (b) of the special number must equal 9.
Now we can check if this works.
1 x 9 + 1 + 9 = 10 x 1 + 9
19 = 19
It works.
2 x 9 + 2 + 9 = 10 x 2 + 9
29 = 29
Does 3 work?
3 x 9 + 3 + 9 = 10 x 3 + 9
39 = 39
And so on.
Now I will provide a reason for why the special numbers go up by 10:
Repeat this paragraph with the successive two numbers in the pattern and you will find that it works.
Ben Page from Hethersett High School also used some algebra to explain his results:
1x9 + 1 + 9 = 19
2x9 + 2 + 9 = 29
3x9 + 3 + 9 = 39
4x9 + 4 + 9 = 49
5x9 + 5 + 9 = 59
6x9 + 6 + 9 = 69
7x9 + 7 + 9 = 79
8x9 + 8 + 9 = 89
9x9 + 9 + 9 = 99
ab + a + b = 10a + b
ab + a = 10a
ab = 9a
b= 9
Jamie from Mold Alun School explained why the special numbers increased by 10:
1 + 9 = 10 and 1x9 = 9
10 + 9 = 19
If you increase 19 by 10, the sum increases by 1 and the product increases by 9, giving you the extra 10
you need to make up the next number, 29.
Every time you increase the previous special number by 10, the sum increases by 1 and the product
increases by 9, giving you the extra 10 you need to make up the next number.
You need to add the sum of the two digits to the product of the two digits to get the original number.
10a + b = a + b + ab
9a + b = b + ab
9a = ab
b=9
So now you know the units part of the two digit number will always be 9.
A different special number could be to add twice the tens digit to the units digit, then add this to the
product of the digits and this gives back to the original number.
10a + b = 2a + b + ab
8a + b = b + ab
8a = ab
b=8
So you know the the second digit in the two digit number will always be 8.
2x2 + 8 + 2x8 = 12 + 16 = 28
Joseph, from Wilson's Grammar School, chose ab to represent a two digit number and showed how to
find special numbers that satisfied the different criteria:
a + b + ab = 10a + b
a + b - b + ab = 10a
a + ab = 10a
ab = 10a - a
ab = 9a
b=9
So the special numbers are 19, 29, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 99
2a + b + ab =10a + b
2a + ab = 10a
ab = 10a - 2a
ab = 8a
b=8
So in this case the special numbers are 18, 28, 38, 48, 58, 68, 78, 88, 98
3a + b + ab = 10a + b
3a + ab = 10a
ab = 10a - 3a
ab = 7a
b=7
So in this case the special numbers are 17, 27, 37, 47, 57, 67, 77, 87, 97
4a + b + ab = 10a + b
4a + ab = 10a
ab = 10a - 4a
ab = 6a
b=6
So in this case the special numbers are 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86, 96
5a + b + ab = 10a + b
5a + ab = 10a
ab = 10a - 5a
ab = 5a
b=5
So in this case the special numbers are 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95
When the tens digit is multiplied n times, the units digit of the special numbers will be 10-n.
When it's 2 times the tens digit you take 2 away from 10 and that gives you the value of the units digit of
the special numbers.
When its 3 times, or 4 times, etc, you just subtract it from 10 to give you the value of the units digit of
the special numbers.