Honest Numbers

A number is honest if can be written using letters in standard English. For example, ”four”
and “two cubed”. Show that any number greater than is an honest number.

There are examples on the next sheet, but first let’s try and prove that any is honest.

First note that we can write any number from to as follows:

one plus twelve

seven plus seven
zero plus fifteen
sixteen minus zero
zero plus seventeen
minus two plus twenty
twenty two minus three
ten times two minus zero
twenty plus two minus one
twenty plus four minus two
twenty plus three plus zero
ten plus ten plus two plus two
half a score plus five plus ten
two plus nine plus five plus ten
ten plus ten plus three plus four

To get any number greater than , we use the following system:

Note that the phrase “plus ten plus five” is equivalent to in letters and in count. Also notice that any number greater
than can be written as a number from to plus a multiple of . For instance:

( )
half a score plus five plus ten (plus ten plus fiv )
half a score plus five plus ten plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five

( )
twenty plus three plus ero (plus ten plus fiv )
twenty plus three plus zero plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five
plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus
five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten
plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus
ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five
plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus
five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five plus ten plus five
 Examples of Honest Numbers
five more than ten seven added to eleven fifty nine minus forty
4 six more than nine twice five plus eight
twice seven plus four
fifty seven over three
five squared minus six
four
16 twice nine minus zero forty halves minus one
8 minus four squared
sixteen minus zero
twenty two minus four
fifty four over three
forty minus twenty one
four more than fifteen
two cubed forty fifths plus ten nine plus fifty fifths
eighteen minus two
nine tenths of twenty nine plus sixty sixths
10 forty eight thirds
sixty four fourths nine thirds times six ninety tenths plus ten
half a score seven added to nine seventy two over four one more than eighteen
ten over one twice five plus six six plus sixty fifths one plus ninety fifths
twice six plus four six thirds times nine seven more than twelve
11 four plus one dozen sixty minus forty two
ten fifths times nine
seven plus thrice four
six more than thirteen
two plus nine four plus twice six
ninety six over six three tenths of sixty sixty nine minus fifty
five plus six thrice six minus zero sixty thirds minus one
one fifth of eighty
13 thirty two over two
thrice two plus ten
thrice sixty over ten
twenty four minus six
three squared plus ten
thrice seven minus two
one plus twelve two fifths of forty twice nine minus zero twenty minus one cubed
two plus eleven two times two cubed twice ninety over ten twenty six minus seven
five plus eight two four in base six two more than sixteen a score minus one cubed
the sixth prime two plus four squared four plus five plus ten
one plus a dozen
17 two cubed added to ten
six added to one dozen
half of fifty minus six
half of forty minus one
14 zero plus seventeen
three plus fourteen
six added to twice six
ten plus ten minus two
one added to thrice six
one added to twice nine
seven plus seven one times seventeen
twenty minus six two times six plus six one less than one score
sixty eight fourths minus two plus a score one less than twice ten
forty two thirds twice four plus nine
a score minus six one half of thirty six seven more than a dozen
twice eight plus one three zero in base six zero plus nine plus ten
four added to ten twice nine minus one
E in base fifteen two four in base seven one plus eight plus ten
one added to sixteen one six in base twelve one plus nine plus nine
E in base sixteen two added to fifteen two plus seven plus ten
15 five added to twelve
eight more than nine
19 three plus six plus ten
four plus five plus ten
zero plus fifteen fifty one over three twenty two minus three
twenty four minus five four plus six plus nine
one plus fourteen six more than eleven six plus six plus seven
two plus thirteen thirty four over two zero added to nineteen
two added to seventeen one times nine plus ten
three plus twelve thrice six minus one one times ten plus nine
one times fifteen two plus thrice five three added to sixteen
five added to fourteen two times nine plus one
twenty minus five one plus six plus ten two times ten minus one
forty five thirds five added to a dozen twice two plus fifteen
twice four plus eleven a fourth of seventy six
sixteen minus one two one in base eight three four in base five
a score minus five one seven in base ten twice eight plus three
eight more than eleven two three in base eight
three plus a dozen six plus a baker's dozen
a quarter of sixty
one half of thirty
18 eighty minus sixty one
fifty halves minus six
minus two plus twenty fifty minus thirty one

Credit to this problem goes to Erich Friedman

http://www2.stetson.edu/~efriedma/mathmagic/1203.html