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What Happens Next?
Take the number C and repeat the process:
Start with 6264:
Largest number (A): 6642
Smallest number (B): 2466
Subtract: 6642 - 2466 = 4176
Continue with 4176:
Largest number (A): 7641
Smallest number (B): 1467
Subtract: 7641 - 1467 = 6174
No matter what 4-digit number you start with, if you repeat these steps, you will always
eventually reach the number 6174. This number is called the Kaprekar constant.
What about 3-Digit Numbers?
If you carry out the same steps with 3-digit numbers, you will find that the number 495 starts
repeating. This is the Kaprekar constant for 3-digit numbers.
Clock and Calendar Numbers
Clocks and calendars aren't just tools to tell time or date; they also have interesting patterns
hidden in their numbers.
Clock Patterns
A 12-hour clock presents interesting opportunities to find patterns in time.
For example:
4:44: This is a time where all the digits are identical.
10:10: Here, the digits repeat in a mirrored fashion.
12:21: This time is palindromic, meaning it reads the same forward and backward.