Please Explain

Problem | Solution | Printable page |
Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

Take a look at the two multiplications below. What do you notice?

$32 \times 46 = 1472$
$23 \times 64 = 1472$

The digits in this multiplication have been reversed, and the answer has stayed the same!

Is this surprising? Can you find other examples where this happens?

What do you notice about the pairs of two digit numbers that produce this special result?


Published June 2000.