123456789 = 2002?

Originally posted by sonhouse
What is a spectrum emulator?

Apparently, this:

http://www.spectaculator.com/

Originally posted by SwissGambit
talzamir is right. If no symbol is placed between digits, they read as a single number. But I'm not sure why that's ambiguous - what would you do with the numbers with no symbol between them if they are distinct numbers and not just digits? For example, what does the expression 1 2 3 = 2002 even mean?

The instruction said "place + or * (plus or multiply) symbols as needed between the digits on the left side". There are 9 digits on the LHS. On the other hand, 123, for example, is not a digit. The way I chose to analyze it, this requires separating the 9 digits with 8 operators, as in 1*2+3+4*5*6*7*8+9. There would be no "1 2 3" to assign meaning to. But it's your puzzle, and a good one too. Your specification stands.

Originally posted by SwissGambit
Apparently, this:

http://www.spectaculator.com/

Or, for more and better choice, almost all of which is free:

http://www.worldofspectrum.org/emulators.html

For under Windows, I personally prefer ZX Spin, but it's very much a matter of taste.

Richard

Originally posted by JS357
The instruction said "place + or * (plus or multiply) symbols as needed between the digits on the left side". There are 9 digits on the LHS. On the other hand, 123, for example, is not a digit. The way I chose to analyze it, this requires separating the 9 digits with 8 operators, as in 1*2+3+4*5*6*7*8+9. There would be no "1 2 3" to assign meaning to. But it's your puzzle, and a good one too. Your specification stands.

Moreover, with your specification, there is no solution. Therefore, his specification is the correct one by necessity as well as by origin.

Richard

Originally posted by sonhouse
What is a spectrum emulator?

1. Captain Scarlet's alter ego.

2. A glass prism.

3. A Time Machine. (Backwards only)

Originally posted by wolfgang59
1. Captain Scarlet's alter ego.

2. A glass prism.

3. A Time Machine. (Backwards only)

I was just trying to figure out how that would have helped him find a solution.

Originally posted by Shallow Blue
Moreover, with your specification, there is no solution. Therefore, his specification is the correct one by necessity as well as by origin.

Richard

I believe you are correct about there being no solutions using my specification.

Originally posted by JS357
I believe you are correct about there being no solutions using my specification.

I know I am. I brute-forced this one (see upthread), and the only two answers that came up required multi-digit numbers.

Richard