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Gitto - Have disposed of my number/letter chart so only have the letters now. If you are at the stage where you want a hint, drop me an email to jordan2015@btinternet.com

Thanks jordan, all done now - perfect timing to watch the Lionesses. I hope they can do it.

Duplicate Post by Wezza

21
Point of clarification please 0!=1 and so does 1!=1. But would the last be an example of a non-trivial clue - in other words the result must be different to the operands?

Yes, 1! would not be allowed. Nor would - 0.

Yes gitto, the sum of column 1 = the sum of the answer to 4 and 21.

This is my first numerical, and I've been looking forward to it - I was good at sums all those years ago. But I can't get started. I've been told that there is always a logical path through these things, unlike a "proper" crossword, and this one seems even harder as once I've worked out a few numbers (if I ever get that far) there's little crossing help to be had. So I'm perplexed about how to get going. I think I've discovered what letter represents 0, but beyond that I'm lost. Can anyone suggest how to proceed (off line if that's the preferred way of doing it: arthurswan "at" btinternet "dot" com.

Swannie - it's worth persevering (in my view). Four key things that help you get going:

1. All answers are at least 2 digits. So any letter that is an answer >= 10
2. The ' can only apply to non palindromic numbers that don't end in zero. So any letter with a ' after it must be >=12.
3. Powers are always your friend. A^B gets very big very quickly unless A and B are both small. To a lesser extent, same applies to !
4. Answers are in increasing order. That helps a lot.

You should be able to put most of the letters into ranges quite quickly. Then keep working through the clues to gradually narrow down.

Hope this helps

smellyharry - thanks, but I'm still in a loop of proving that everything I try for A,E and I produces an impossibility. Would you be prepared to look at my working and point out my error? arthurswan "at" btinternet "dot" com

It says below that I'm not a robot, but a solver of very little brain, I fear.

Oh, Child's Play - that was a splendid denoument - thank you very much.

So I'm a huge fan of the numerical puzzles. I love the fact that once every three months a totally differnt skillset is called for. And I'm good with numbers - I have a degree in mathematics, so normally the numerical gives me a quick finish and a free weekend.

I think this may be the most disappointing Listener numerical I've ever done. Maybe the word 'numerical' is superfluous. It seemed to be a tour de force on how not to compose a crossword - no help from the grid until you've solved all the clues? Check. Grid fill is ambiguous with no mathematical way to resolve it other than resorting to a calculator or a prime factors website? Check. Final step that is not tied in to the theme in any way at all, and is just a massive GWIT? Check. The grid is quite a clever construction, I suppose, but CP did have the freedom to encode the letters as he chose, so it's probably not as hard as you think. For the first time in my life I understand why people don't do the numericals. CP has set some gems in the past, but I'm afraid this was a miss for me.