-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Antonomasia wrote:

The wording of the original challenge suggested there was a trick to this particular factorisation.

That is exactly right. Hint 3 is more like an insight a puzzle solver would have rather than that of a mathematician. When you have this insight you will know it. If you want me to post Hint 3, just ask. You'll have a good laugh if you get it yourself, though. Monty Cantsin Editor in Chief Smile Magazine http://www.neoism.org/squares/smile_index.html http://www.neoism.org/squares/cantsin_10.htm -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQEVAwUBNHXyUpaWtjSmRH/5AQFAaQf9G1maM+b9pd68VGCyotMk9MSEc4yCVsos KrKrcUgaEQrjrWlH2HB1Qosuc42fubREzKZVdUxREIM05STEJsTKJl1AK4qeU5L9 hkHBMUFNWGbp7BuXiN0+CRx802vxyoFNdFJv8sxGBbPZebmR6OqaeTSOwswmaJ7J 6JwA1ZXle4n8cBR0d5C0NfjEnj0j7//pFHh+6mxJbNiLfBlNQp4qPRhEX/asq/UU Mlk2Yd1INGvCMcrJzOgQL4fb9WoNs42vDQ9Bm8LwJzIGGG1nwzI7Vs0jtHJeC1r7 +kMo1wXDcM9sVQJhBjgoI4cvARtHh5x4D+pN/6Tz3r8YwxZ6dyieYQ== =PD9O -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----