Examples of Solving Cm Cons*
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Cryptarithm
* “Cm Cons” means “cipher constructions in The Cryptogram” -- the bi-monthly publication
for members of the American Cryptogram Association (ACA) -- www.cryptogram.org
Examples of Solving
This series shows specific examples of solving
ACA ciphers. It tries to give successive hints of
what to look at, then follows through by using
each hint, building to the solution.
Try to solve the cipher on your own, using as
many hints as you need, or just read along.
Please report errors or send suggestions to
nudge@cryptogram.org
References
• The ACA and You, Ch. 4, How to Solve a
Problem in The Cryptogram.
• An Approach to Cryptarithms, by FIDDLE,
1963.
What is a Cryptarithm?
A cryptarithm is an arithmetic operation in
which letters have been used to represent the
digits. Use the rules of arithmetic to infer what
digit each letter represents. Each cryptarithm
has a unique solution.
Cryptarithms in Cm are written in a single line to
conserve space.
Getting started on a Cryptarithm
Start by rewriting the arithmetic in normal form.
Then learn facts about the digits. E.g.,
• What represents zero, one, or nine?
• What cannot represent zero?
• What digit is greater than another?
• What set of digits can each letter represent?
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
C-1. Division. (Two words, 9-0) ZIP
SPOILED ÷ SOLE = DYO; - SPMII = IDNED; - IESPO = MPIL
What does the first line tell us?
Cipher ID: C-1
Type: Division
Key: the letters will spell out two words when listed in order
from 9 to 0 (9876543210)
Created by ACA member ZIP
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
It helps to rewrite a cryptarithm in traditional format, aligning
digits correctly. Always a good first step.
A three-digit quotient, but only two subtractions?
SPOILED ÷ SOLE = DYO; - SPMII = IDNED; - IESPO = MPIL
DYO
SOLE) SPOILED
Write it in traditional form as far as the
-SPMII #
IDNED first subtraction. What does this reveal?
9876543210
(2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
It helps to rewrite a cryptarithm in traditional format, aligning
digits correctly. Always a good first step.
A three-digit quotient, but only two subtractions?
SPOILED ÷ SOLE = DYO; - SPMII = IDNED; - IESPO = MPIL
DYO
SOLE) SPOILED
An essential clue is given by ED brought
-SPMII #
IDNED down on the right side of the first
difference. It tells us that SOLE is larger
than IDNE, thus Y=0 and S > I.
9876543210
Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
It helps to rewrite a cryptarithm in traditional format, aligning
digits correctly. Always a good first step.
This is the complete traditional form of our division.
SPOILED ÷ SOLE = DYO; - SPMII = IDNED; - IESPO = MPIL
DYO
Fact 1: S > I. (Y=0 is recorded at left)
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED What else can we say about the letters
-IESPO that represent the digits?
MPIL
9876543210
Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Fact 2:
O > P (SOLE > SPOI, or else quotient would have 4 digits)
DYO
S > I, O > P
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Fact 3:
D > O (because SPMII > IESPO)
DYO
S > I, O > P, D > O
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Fact 4:
O > M; O > I (O – M = I in first subtraction)
DYO
S > I, O > P, D > O, O > M, O > I
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Fact 5:
D > E; D > M (D – E = M in second subtraction)
DYO
S > I, O > P, D > O, O > M, O > I, D > E,
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
D>M
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Fact 6:
D > L (D – O = L in second subtraction, rightmost digit)
DYO
S > I, O > P, D > O, O > M, O > I, D > E,
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
D > M, D > L
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Fact 7:
D=9 (I-I=D in first subtraction. D cannot be zero, so the
column to the right must have needed a borrow, forcing this
column to borrow from the one on the left, which means D must
be 9.) [also, since D=9, no longer useful to list facts like D > L.]
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Fact 8:
I>L (because L-I in first subtraction caused a borrow)
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Fact 9:
S > M (because final remainder must be < SOLE)
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
In second product, O x E ends with O. How might this occur?
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
In second product, O x E ends with O. How might this occur?
Maybe O=0? Any value of E times O would still end in O.
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
In second product, O x E ends with O. How might this occur?
Maybe O=0? Any value of E times O would still end in O.
No, that can’t work.
Y is already 0. O must be some other digit.
Also, in the second subtraction, D – O did not equal D.
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
In second product, O x E ends with O. How might this occur?
Maybe E=1? Any value of O times E would still end in O.
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
In second product, O x E ends with O. How might this occur?
Maybe E=1? Any value of O times E would still end in O.
No, that can’t work.
In the first product, D x E did not end with D.
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
In second product, O x E ends with O. How might this occur?
Maybe O=5 and E is odd? All products would end with 5.
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
In second product, O x E ends with O. How might this occur?
Maybe O=5 and E is odd? All products would end with 5.
This might be possible. We can further limit the cases.
Y=1, D=9, O=5, so E could only be 3 or 7.
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
In second product, O x E ends with O. How might this occur?
Maybe E=6 and O is even? (e.g., 2 x 6 = 12, 4 x 6 = 24)
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
In second product, O x E ends with O. How might this occur?
Maybe E=6 and O is even? (e.g., 2 x 6 = 12, 4 x 6 = 24)
This might be possible. And we can further limit the cases.
E=6, and we ruled out O=0, so O could only be 2, 4, or 8.
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
IDNED
-IESPO
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Summarizing:
Maybe O=5 and E is 3 or 7.
Maybe E=6 and O is 2, 4, or 8.
List all the combinations. Each column is a possible set of values.
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
aa bb cc dd ee
IDNED
O 5 5 2 4 8
-IESPO
E 3 7 6 6 6
MPIL
9876543210
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Add a line for I. D x E ends with I, so fill in values for 9 x E in each
column. E.g., in column aa, 9 x 3 = 27, so enter 7 as value for I.
But wait! Columns aa, cc, and dd do not uphold O > I. Throw
them out!
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
aa bb cc dd ee
IDNED
O 5 5 2 4 8
-IESPO
E 3 7 6 6 6
MPIL
I 7 3 4 4 4
9876543210
x x x
D Y (2 wds)
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Enter a line for L. In the second subtraction, L = D – O.
Each value for L is calculated as 9 – O.
AHA! Values in bb do not uphold I > L. Throw ‘em out!
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
aa bb cc dd ee
IDNED
O - 5 - - 8
-IESPO
E - 7 - - 6
MPIL
I - 3 - - 4
9876543210
L - 4 - - 1
D Y (2 wds)
x
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Only column ee is left. These values must be correct. But first…
Let’s create a line for M. In the first subtraction, M = O – I – 1
(subtract 1 because the column to the right borrows from this
column).
Record all these values on the left.
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
aa bb cc dd ee
IDNED
O - - - - 8
-IESPO
E - - - - 6
MPIL
I - - - - 4
9876543210
L - - - - 1
DO E IM LY (2 wds)
M - - - - 3
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
Just a few digits remaining to calculate and record.
E – P = I, so P must be 2.
N – S = P (2), so N=7 and S=5.
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
aa bb cc dd ee
IDNED
O - - - - 8
-IESPO
E - - - - 6
MPIL
I - - - - 4
9876543210
L - - - - 1
DONESIMPLY (2 wds)
M - - - - 3
Solving C-1 from Sample Cm
All done!
Record the solution so you could later submit it for credit.
C-1 DONESIMPLY
DYO
S > I, O > P, O > M, O > I, I > L, S > M
SOLE) SPOILED
-SPMII #
aa bb cc dd ee
IDNED
O - - - - 8
-IESPO
E - - - - 6
MPIL
I - - - - 4
9876543210
L - - - - 1
DONESIMPLY (2 wds)
M - - - - 3
Thank you. Try another.
Try the ACA!
The American Cryptogram Association (ACA) is a non-profit
organization dedicated to promoting the hobby and art of
cryptanalysis – learning to break ciphers. And we write ciphers,
too. Our Sample Issue and all its solution tutorials are available
on our website:
www.cryptogram.org/resource-area/sample-issue-cryptogram/
