Skip to content
Resources

    196-Algorithm


    The 196-algorithm involves iterative execution of the following steps:

    1) Reverse digits of base 10 number;

    2) Add original base 10 number to number attained in Step #1;

    3) Repeat above process until palindrome (i.e., written left-to-right or right-to-left is the same) number is attained.

    All single digit and double digit numbers eventually become palindromes after repeated reversal and addition.

    Approximately 80% of all numbers under 10,000 resolve into a palindrome in four or fewer steps while about 90% solve in seven iterations or less.

    The number 196 is a number, which has yet to produce a palindrome using this technique.

    Example #1:

    Employ the 196-algorithm on the number 399 to ascertain a palindrome.

    Solution #1:

    399:

    399 + 993 = 1392

    1392 + 2931 = 4323

    4323 + 3234 = 7557

    Example #2:

    Employ the 196-algorithm on the number 4932 to ascertain a palindrome.

    Solution #2:
    4932:

    4932 + 2394 = 7326

    7326 + 6237 = 13563

    13563 + 36531 = 50094

    50094 + 49005 = 99099