heh, interesting observation.
Let's see if I can do one as well:
Using the following common letter-to-number conversion table:
a 1
b 2
c 3
d 4
e 5
f 6 -
g 7
h 8
i 9
j 10
k 11
l 12
m 13
n 14
o 15 -
p 16
q 17
r 18 -
s 19
t 20 -
u 21
v 22
w 23
x 24
y 25 -
z 26
We find the following letters substitute for the letters in the word "FORTY":
6 15 18 20 25
Complemented by the following set of numbers, the count of letters before each letter in alphabetical sequence, but occurring after the previous letter from the word FORTY (ie, a b c d e = 5, F; g h i j k l m n = 8, O)
5 8 2 1 4
Separate the digits in sequence for the first string of numbers, 6 15 18 20 25:
6 1 5 1 8 2 0 2 5
The sum of those numbers? 30. Ten less than 40, our original number.
Perform the same operation on the complementary string:
5 8 2 1 4
The sum? 20.
So, from 40, we get 30 and then 20... the 1st 3 multiples of 10 which end in Y, the second to last letter in the 26-letter alphabet. 1+3+10+26=40.
I'm a filthy cheater.
At 5/9/06 11:52 AM, Less-than-three wrote:
FORTY IS FANTASTIC.
If I remember correctly, you were having trouble with Chemistry a little over a year ago... I am to assume you've become quite the whiz? :D