Okie, let's see. I've got a little project I'm trying to work on, and I'm pretty sure it can be done using C++. I only know a litlte bit about C++, though, so I don't know enough to really work the problem out. I understand the basics (or can find information on the net about them), but I don't know too many concepts. I don't think this problem requires any difficult concepts, but I don't know. Let me try to explain a simplified version of the problem (using simplified numbers).

It comes in a number of parts:

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Part One: Definitons. I know how to define things in C++, but I am including this part here so you know what I am talking about later.

a=1, b=2, c=3, d=4, e=5, f=6

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Part Two: Arithmetic.

a*{d,e,f} + b{d,e,f} + c*{d,e,f} = z

(now, by { }, I mean to try all combinations of these variables: a*d + b*d + c*d is one combination, and a*d + b*d + c*e is another. There are 27 combinations, I believe)

if z=20, then continue to next part
if not, then go back up and continue trying combinations until you reach a combination where z=20 (and there is more than one combination where z=20)

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Part Three: Tests. For each combination found where z=20, I want a number of tests to be done.

What was multiplied by a (either d, e, or f) cannot equal what was multiplied by c.

What was multiplied by b (either d, e, or f) cannot equal what was multiplied by c.

if one test is failed, continue with combinations.
if all tests are passed, print the d/e/f values of a, b, and c (in other words, which variables a, b, and c were multiplied by)
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I don't need an exact working program, but if anyone could help me out with little bits and pieces, or certain topics I should study to figure out how to complete this.

Also: Is it more logical that part two should accumulate all values of z=20 and then test those in part three, or would it be better that when a z=20 value is found, part three is carried out (and if that combination does not pass all the tests, return to part two)? I would prefer the latter.

I'm sorry if this all seems confusing. I don't know any other way to word it. Like I said, *any* help would be appreciated regardless of how detailed it is. Thanks in advance!

Selwyn McPherson.
If you have any questions, you can email me at [email protected]