Computational Thinking: Group Assignment: Countdown Numbers Round

countdown: the numbers round

introduction
Countdown is a long-running British TV gameshow based on the French series Des chiffres et des lettres. Contestants
complete a number of 30 second word and number puzzles. Here we will examine the numbers round of the British
series.

CECIL, the random number generator, produces a three-digit number in the range 101 – 999 (inclusive). Given 6
number cards, the aim is to reach the goal number using only standard arithmetic operations: namely addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division. Concatenation of number cards is not permitted (i.e. the cards ‘1’, ‘9’, ‘6’
cannot directly produce the number 196 by just joining). Each number card may be used at most once.

The intermediate results of all sub-calculations and subexpressions are required to be positive, whole numbers. Hence
in the example above, we could reach the number 561 through:
(6 + 1) * 8 * 10 + (9 / 9) = 561 (infix notation)
6 1 + 8 * 10 * 9 9 / + = 561 (postfix notation)

The six number cards are chosen at random 1 from the following set of 24 shuffled number cards:
{1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100}

task
Consider combinations of five cards chosen from the 24 above. Which set of five number cards is the most versatile?
That is, which five card set is able to yield the greatest number of unique 3-digit numbers using the rules above? Is
there a five card set that can produce all numbers in the interval [101, 999]?

hints
• Perhaps consider developing an algorithm for a smaller card set first.

• For one set of five cards, how many ways can the cards be combined?

1 Simplified slightly here, in the game proper the number cards are split into two sets: high and low cards. The contestant may
choose 6 random number cards using any combination from the high or low card set.