Why is it always 1089

This is the reasoning behind Always End With 1089.

We will need a little bit of algebra, but stick with it, it is not difficult.

Show the number as ABC

down arrow

Reverse this to get CBA

down arrow

Remember that A is hundreds B is tens and C is ones
Take CBA from ABC like this:

down arrow


Hundreds Tens Ones

A B C
Subtract: C B A

A−C 0 C−A

down arrow

Now here is the trick:
Subtract 1 hundred, and add 9 tens and 10 ones
(−100, +90, +10 = 0, so won't change the answer):


Hundreds Tens Ones

A−1 B+9 C+10
Subtract: C B A

A−1−C 9 10+C−A

down arrow

Last Step: Reverse the answer and
add the two numbers together.


Hundreds Tens Ones

A−1−C 9 10+C−A
Add: 10+C−A 9 A−1−C

9 18 9
Simplify: 10 8 9

As predicted the answer was 1089