Math Puzzle Answer

This is the solution to one of our math puzzles. There are several other puzzles to enjoy. Please click to find all our math puzzles.

Lottery Numbers - Answer

Eliminating the primes and the numbers with prime digits leave only these numbers: 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 18, 40, 44, 46, 48 and 49.

The number 1 can't be played because:

• Eliminating the numbers from this set that are 1 more than a prime leaves 1, 9, 10, 16, 40, 46 and 49.
• But 16 - 9 = 7, 46 - 9 = 37, 16 - 10 = 6, and 46 - 40 = 6.

If the number 4 is played:

• The numbers that can be in the set are 4, 8, 10, 14, 16, 18, 40, 44, 46, 48, and 49.

If the number 49 is in the set:

• 8, 18, 44, and 46 can't be played.
• 14 and 16 cannot both be played.
• 16 can’t be played because 10 - 4 = 6 and 16 - 10 = 6.

Therefore, the numbers played are 4, 10, 14, 40 48, and 49.

Try any other combination and you'll see that this is the only solution that will work.