Can You Break Open the Number Lock Code 493 in a Logic Chain?

Submitted by Atanu Chaudhuri on Thu, 18/09/2025 - 02:20

Break open the number lock code from five hint clues. Each clue in the number lock puzzle includes a 3 digit code and digit and position information.

Following are the five clues as hints.

Clue 1: Code 4 9 3: One digit is correct but in the wrong place.

Clue 2: Code 4 1 6: One digit is correct and in the right place.

Clue 3: Code 1 8 4: Two digits are correct but both are in the wrong places.

Clue 4: Code 9 6 2: One digit is correct and in the right place.

Clue 5: Code 8 5 7: One digit correct in the wrong place.

Break open the number lock code in a quick series of breakthroughs.

Time to solve: 10 minutes.

Solution in a Chain of Analysis based on common digit clues and position and digit correctness patterns.

Breakthroughs paused when new techniques needed.

First breakthrough: All clues take part in the logic chain, but first breakthrough by Clues 1+2+3.

Clue 1 (4 9 3 ): One digit is correct but in the wrong place.

Clue 2 (4 1 6 ): One digit is correct and in the right place.

Clue 3 (1 8 4): Two digits are correct but both are in the wrong places.

Position and correctness conflict in Clues 1+2 ➡ digit 4 wrong ➡ Clue 3: digits 1 and 8 right.

Second breakthrough: by Positional analysis.

Clue 2 (4 1 6): One digit is correct and in the right place.

Clue 5 (8 5 7): One digit correct in the wrong place.

Positional analysis on Clue 5+2 ➡ 1 in middle, 8 right most ➡ partial code [ ? 1 8 ].

Final breakthrough by Positional conflict.

Clue 4 (Code 9 6 2): One digit is correct and in the right place.

Positional conflict in Clue 4 ➡ 6 and 2 incorrect, 9 third correct digit leftmost.

Solution: Secret code [ 9 1 8 ].

As all clues were in the logic chain, no verification needed. If you feel so, verify the solution against each clue.

All clues analyzed to spot opportunities in digit+position patterns in multiple clues and the whole series of links in the logic chain mapped.
Pattern based technique: Position and correctness conflict: In Clues 1+2, digit 4 leftmost in both, stated to be correct but position status differed. 4 identified as incorrect. By incorrect digit elimination, a necessary but routine practice, digits 1 and 8 confirmed correct in Clue 3.
Positional analysis: Clues 2+5: In Clue 5, digit 8 in wrong leftmost position. In Clue 2, 1 captured middle. 8 left with rightmost.
Position pattern based technique: Positional conflict: In Clue 4, both 6 and 2 clashed in positional claim with 1 and 8 in middle and right. Confirmed both wrong and third correct digit 9 leftmost. Secret code [ 9 1 8 ].

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