Lucky Numbers

So, Ryan at Rockstar's Ramblings has been having fun with an astrologer compairing his horoscopes to actual events and what not. Fun stuff. In any case, the astrologer responds by talking about random numbers...I mean lucky numbers and how you can use them. Here's the deal.

You can use your lucky numbers in any action that involves choosing a number - such as a date or time of day. For example, if you have an important appointment or phone call to make, you can use your lucky numbers to set the best time. So say that two of your lucky numbers are 1 and 15. You could make the call at 1:15, or set up an appointment on the 1st or 15th of the month. You can even "reverse" your lucky numbers. If 12 was one of your lucky numbers, you could also use 21. And of course you can combine your lucky numbers, using all or a few of them, as you wish.

This got me wondering, how many days a month are REALLY lucky based on this statement?


Step 1, I need lucky numbers. Lucky for me(!), we had chinese for lunch today. Fortune cookie to the rescue. My lucky numbers are 8, 15, 22, 23, 27, 35.


Step 2, figure out how many days using any combination of numbers in forward or reverse order are lucky.


Okay first off, the lucky numbers (except 35) themselves are lucky days. 5 down. I would reverse the numbers to get a few more, but no such luck, none of the work as valid days of the month backwards. On to the combining. As I see it, math is combining. Yup.


We'll start subtracting things. 23-22 = 1. 27-23 = 4. 27 - 22 = 5. 22-15 = 8. 22-8 = 14. 35-23 = 12. 35-22 = 13. 27-8 = 19. 35-15 = 20. That's 9 more. Now we need to get tricky and start flipping numbers over.. that's legal you know.


53-22 = 31. 53-23 = 30. 51-22 = 29. 51-23 = 28. 32-8 = 24. 32-15 = 17. 53-32 = 11. 32-22 = 10. 53-51 = 2. Alright, another 9. 9 must be significant.


That leaves me with 3, 6, 9, 16, 18, 21, 25, and 26. There's that 9 again. Let's get rid of it. 23-22+8 = 9. HA!


Well, I'm sure I could get more, but I'm hungry and want my dinner. Besides, what fun is life without a few unlucky days per month. 7 to be specific.


Or I could be wrong, I've been wrong before.