A First Course in Linear Algebra · Problem SSLE.C52
Systems of Linear Equations — Robert Beezer
Mathematics — Linear Algebra · solving-systems-of-linear-equations
Problem
Driving along, Terry notices that the last four digits on his car's odometer are palindromic. A mile later, the last five digits are palindromic. After driving another mile, the middle four digits are palindromic. One more mile, and all six are palindromic. What was the odometer reading when Terry first looked at it? Form a linear system of equations that expresses the requirements of this puzzle. (Car Talk Puzzler, National Public Radio, Week of January 21, 2008) (A car odometer displays six digits and a sequence is a palindrome if it reads the same left-to-right as right-to-left.)