1. UPC detective: find the missing number in each of these UPC codes:

Code

missing digit

 

A. ?-78787-03104-3

0

 

B. 0-?0735-00458-1

7

C. 0-7?787-04104-2

8

 

D. 0-41?40-56400-3

5

 

E. 0-875?7-79000-7

4

 

F. 0-4154?-33111-7

0

 

G. 0-51515-?2385-0

5

 

H. 0-41540-5?401-0

6

 

I. 0-30643-54?23-7

3

 

J. 0-21200-665?2-6

2

 

K. 0-71641-8000?-5

4

 

L. 0-41540-3351?-6

4

 

B. 0-?0735-00458-1

0x3+N+0x3+7+3x3+5+0x3+0+4x3+5+8x3+1=0

N+7+9+5+12+5+24+1=0

63+N=0

3+N=0

N=0-3=7

The missing digit is 7

C. 0-7?787-04104-2

0x3+7+Nx3+7+8x3+7+0x3+4+1x3+0+4x3+2=0

7+Nx3+7+24+7+4+3+12+2=0

66+Nx3=0

6+Nx3=0

Nx3=0-6

Nx3=4

We need Nx3=4, 14 or 24

8x3=24

N=8

E. 0-875?7-79000-7

0x3+8+7x3+5+Nx3+7+7x3+9+0x3+0+0x3+7=0

8+21+5+Nx3+7+21+9+7=0

78+Nx3=0

8+Nx3=0

Nx3=0-8=2

We need Nx3=2, 12 or 22

4x3=12

N=4

2. (this question will be on the quiz). What are check digits good for? Why do they bother to put check digits on UPC codes and things like that?