4.1M
THIn 1949, Indian mathematician D. R. Kaprekar described a numerical process that revealed a fixed result for four digit numbers in base ten. That result is 6174, now known as Kaprekar’s Constant.
The process works as follows. Take any four digit number with at least two different digits. Rearrange its digits to form the largest possible number and the smallest possible number, then subtract the smaller from the larger. Repeat the same steps with each new result.
No matter which valid four digit number you start with, the sequence reaches 6174 in a finite number of steps. Once reached, the process becomes stable because rearranging 6174 gives 7641 and 1467, and their difference is 6174 again.
This behavior is specific to four digit numbers in the base ten number system. Other digit lengths can have similar constants, but 6174 is unique to four digit decimal numbers and always acts as the final fixed point of the process.
——————
#viral #math #science #news #Nurtle
@therealnurtle
