In the following addition problem, Y, O, and U are different digits. Solve the following problem:
I'm going to change the letter "O" to the letter "Q"
because the letter "O" looks too much like zero.
YOU + YOU + YOU = UUU
Sorry there can't be a solution. Why?
Y Q U
Y Q U
Y Q U
-----
U U U
Adding the rightmost column
U + U + U
If there was 0 (nothing) to carry, then
U + U + U = U
3U = U
2U = 0
U = 0
If U were 0, then the next column would be
Q+Q+Q = 0 or Q+Q+Q = 10
3Q = 0 3Q = 10
Q = 0 Q =
But Q can't be 0 because U = 0, and it can't be
so there had to be 1 to carry.
Therefore
U + U + U = 10 + U
3U = 10
U = 5
So therefore we have:
1
Y Q 5
Y Q 5
Y Q 5
-----
5 5 5
Adding up the middle column with the carry,
we have
1 + Q + Q + Q = 5 or 15
1 + 3Q = 5 or 1 + 3Q = 15
3Q = 4 or 3Q = 14
Q = Q =
But Q can't be a fraction, so there
can be no solution. Sorry.
Edwin