Solution to Enigma No. 1525

17 December 2008

Answer: The common value is 54.

The winner is Michael Daws of Oslo, Norway. There were 183 entries.

Worked answer

T+H+E = H+E+R+A+L+D and so T = R+A+L+D…..(1)

H+A+R+K = H+E+R+A+L+D and so K = E+L+D…..(2)

A+N+G+E+L+S = S+I+N+G and so I = A+E+L…..(3)

T+H+A+T = 96 and so A ≥ 96-26-26-25 = 19.

Also from (1) T ≥ A+1+2+3 and so A ≤ 20.

Also from (3) I ≥ A+1+2 we can deduce the tables shown in the diagram, top-right.

So, each word has a value of 54.

(for example, H = 24, A = 20, R = 2, K = 8, T = 26, E = 4, L = 1, D = 3, N = 5, G = 6, S = 18, I = 25)

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