Open Middle®
Directions: Using the digits 0 to 9 at most one time each to create a true statement.
Hint
Which is more restricted, the coefficients, or the exponents?
Answer
There are many answers, here is one possibility:
2, 1, 4, 3, 7, 5, 6, 8, 9
2, 1, 4, 3, 7, 5, 6, 8, 9
Source: Anthony Meli
I believe the problem statement should be revised to state “Using the digits 1 through 9 at most one time each to create a true statement.” In other words, the digit 0 should be excluded. First, there are 10 digits from 0 to 9, while there are 9 boxes, which violates the “at most one time” criterion. Second, allowing zero would imply a duplicate in either the exponents or the coefficients, also violating the “at most one time” criterion.