From: Bill Daly Newsgroups: sci.math Date: Thu, 19 Jun 1997 13:27:13 -0700 Organization: Interport Communications Corp. Message-ID: <33A99621.5218@mail.interport.net> References: <5ob8ma$lul$1@edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu> Dennis P. Havlena wrote: > > > HI. I found the following while going through a new-found family document > from the 1920s. It lists "cash on hand" (from five different sources - > plus the total) , but it is coded, apparently for secrecy. > > My knowledge of algebra is limited to say the least & wonder if this is > even decodable at all? > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > as written: what I've been able to > figure out so far: > > Source 1, KAH.BK 5 _ _ . _ 5 > Source 2, BAE.EE _ _ _ . 0 0 > Source 3, LLO.OK _ _ _ . _ 5 > Source 4, LRC.EE _ _ _ . 0 0 > Source 5, LCE.EE _ _ 0 . 0 0 > ~~~~~~ > TOTAL = BCAO.SE _ _ _ _ . _ 0 > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > My speculation: > E = 0 (because it so commonly occurs in the "cents" column) > K = 5 (because in the rightmost column, 5+5 would put a E or 0 in the > total's right-most spot) > B must equal a low value number like 1 or 2 or perhaps 3 > > Thanks much! > Dennis Havlena - W8MI > Mackinac Straits > dhavlena@edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu > This looks like a variant of the pharmacist's code. The original pharmacist's code was PHARMOCIST 1234567890 which was used to write the true cost of an item so that the customer didn't know how much profit the pharmacist was making on it. In your case, I would guess that the keyword is BLACKHORSE 1234567890 which works assuming that the writer didn't quite add correctly. Thus, > Source 1, KAH.BK 5 3 6 . 1 5 > Source 2, BAE.EE 1 3 0 . 0 0 > Source 3, LLO.OK 2 2 7 . 7 5 > Source 4, LRC.EE 2 8 4 . 0 0 > Source 5, LCE.EE 2 4 0 . 0 0 > ~~~~~~ > TOTAL = BCAO.SE 1 4 3 7 . 9 0 The correct sum is 1417.90, which should have been written BCBO.SE. Regards, Bill