Take 18 matchsticks and arrange them to form the number 508. I realized that we do not have matchsticks in our home and certainly, we do not have 18 gaslighters – so, resorted to powerpoint to make the picture.

Now, the question is by repositioning two sticks (any two sticks of your choice), what is the highest number you can get? Post your answer in the comments section.

This is the Wordle problem from yesterday. I tried my usual first word. And hit jackpot with the second word. Got all the five letters but none of them were in the right position.

Then I got distracted. Instead of solving the Wordle problem, my idiotic brain converted it into a math problem. The question I had for myself was – in how many ways can I arrange the five letters (there is no repeat) where none of the letters will occupy the same position as the all yellow row. In other words, how many combinations of LATER can you come up with where the first letter is not L and second letter is not A and …. (you get the drift).

It is MUCH harder than I thought. One hour later, I realized I was getting late for office. Quickly solved the Wordle part and wrote to my nephew in UC Riverside before getting ready for work.

We still do not have an elegant solution. In desperation, I enumerated all possibilities. I have the answer now but do not know how to solve it.

HELP!!