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These numbers in some way represents 4 commonly used colors: 25536, 187669382, 3043469, 11599 Can you decode it?

Include the answer and your thought process to get the check mark.

Let me know if you need more hints.

Hint 1:

It requires 3 steps to decode

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  • $\begingroup$ To clarify, each number in bold represents one of the 4 colors? Assuming, but the title/starting with "this number" makes me want to be sure before diving down any rabbit holes. $\endgroup$
    – TCooper
    Apr 28, 2020 at 22:59
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    $\begingroup$ Correct, sorry I meant these, i will fix. Thanks for letting me know. $\endgroup$
    – Ankit
    Apr 28, 2020 at 23:00
  • $\begingroup$ All good, sometimes the devil is in the details though, I've wasted a lot of time going down the wrong path lol $\endgroup$
    – TCooper
    Apr 28, 2020 at 23:04
  • $\begingroup$ @TCooper Lol Should I give another hint? $\endgroup$
    – Ankit
    Apr 28, 2020 at 23:07
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    $\begingroup$ I'd wait a day or so for another hint, it's a global community, gives everyone a crack at it $\endgroup$
    – TCooper
    Apr 29, 2020 at 0:01

1 Answer 1

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I don't see "3 steps to decode"

transfer numbers to base-26 / or A-Z as numbers.
For example RED = $26^2*17 + 26^1*4 + 26^0*3 = 11599 $

so

25536 -> BLUE
187669382 -> PURPLE
3043469 -> GREEN
11599 -> RED

Well

This system only have problem with words that starts with "A", because it represents zero.

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    $\begingroup$ You got it. You kind of merged the 2nd and 3rd steps. Second was to take the base 26 digits and add 1. Third was to convert using the A=1, B=2, C=3 ... code. Also it wouldn't be a problem with a's. $\endgroup$
    – Ankit
    Apr 29, 2020 at 19:30
  • $\begingroup$ @Ankit For A=1,Z=26 you would need Base27, since in Base26 there would be A0=Z. So A=0, Z=25 is just normal Base26. There is problem with A=0, how would you in your code write just "AA"… $\endgroup$
    – Jan Ivan
    Apr 30, 2020 at 5:59

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