A TEST MATCH FORECAST.

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 39, 15 February 1930, Page 29

A TEST MATCH FORECAST.

There is no algebraical dimculty in this mathematical curiosity, even though the respective values of the first nine letters are unknown, because the reader is told at the outset that each letter (A to I) represents one of. the nine digits, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1, 8, 9, though not respectively. It appears that several well-known supporters of cricket were very disappointed with the display of the New eZaland eleven in the first Test match, and one of them stated that the English team, if given fine weather and a good wicket in the other Tests, could score just as many runs as they desired. In fact he wrote a forecast, in the following cryptic form, of the score they would get in one innings in the second match: — H.C. multiplied by E.A. plus I.D. minus C, which at their equivalent numerical values fairly indicates that he expected great things from the visitors, but events have proved that he was a long way out. What was his forecast of the score if D plus E plus 0 equal seven; D plus E plus H, six; H plus B multiplied by F, forty-three; G- multiplied by C divided by D, twentyeight; and E upon C equal to one-half? The predicted score will be particularly clear to everyone if it is also known that B and i 1 equal eight and five respectively, and especially so when the values of D and I (multiplied together making nine), are so obviously stated. It should bo noted that when two letters are placed together as H.C., the number would be 64 if H represented 6 and C 4.