Predictive powers
On my mobile phone the buttons can be used for more than one letter, and the machine predicts your intended word. So, for example, to text 鈥淪TOP鈥� I type the buttons shown below, but the machine could also interpret that as 鈥淪UMS鈥�.
This desire for compact gadgetry has spread to calculators. The digits of mine are on just five buttons, A to E, as shown below. So when I type in a number the machine has to predict what I want. Recently I pushed buttons intending to display a three-figure prime number, but the machine displayed a different three-figure prime. Then I pushed some more buttons intending to display a three-figure square, but the machine displayed a different three-figure square. When typing these two numbers I had pushed each button at least once.
Which six buttons, listed in order, did I push?
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WIN 拢15 will be awarded to the sender of the first correct answer opened on Monday 2 April. The Editor鈥檚 decision is final. Please send entries to Enigma 1687, New 女生小视频, Lacon House, 84 Theobald鈥檚 Road, London WC1X 8NS, or to enigma@newscientist.com (please include postal address).
Answer to 1681 Twins divide: ENIGMA is 836502
The winner Andy Lewis of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, UK
Enigmas 1678, 1679 & 1680 Answers and winners will be announced in the next two issues
