"""This module contains code from Think Python by Allen B. Downey http://thinkpython.com Copyright 2012 Allen B. Downey License: GNU GPLv3 http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html http://www.cartalk.com/content/puzzler/transcripts/200813 """ def str_fill(i, len): """return the integer (i) written as a string with at least (len) digits""" return str(i).zfill(len) def are_reversed(i, j): """ return True if the integers i and j, written as strings, are the reverse of each other""" return str_fill(i,2) == str_fill(j,2)[::-1] def num_instances(diff, flag=False): """returns the number of times the mother and daughter have pallindromic ages in their lives, given the difference in age. If flag==True, prints the details.""" daughter = 0 count = 0 while True: mother = daughter + diff if are_reversed(daughter, mother) or are_reversed(daughter, mother+1): count = count + 1 if flag: print daughter, mother if mother > 120: break daughter = daughter + 1 return count def check_diffs(): """enumerate the possible differences in age between mother and daughter, and for each difference, count the number of times over their lives they will have ages that are the reverse of each other.""" diff = 10 while diff < 70: n = num_instances(diff) if n > 0: print diff, n diff = diff + 1 print 'diff #instances' check_diffs() print print 'daughter mother' num_instances(18, True)