Expert: Josh - 5/24/2006

Question
Dear Professor,

I have scoured the information superhighway attempting vigourously to find anything related to this question.  Here it is

Can you find any meaning mathematically or otherwise to:  911xxyy

Answer
Dear Phil,

Well,...that depends.

For the ordinary person, it probably represents nothing more than a password or an integer with 4 missing digits. It can also be a phone-number or regional code.

For the mathematician, the string may possess certain properties. Perhaps, it's a prime number or something.

For someone working in the secret service, it might be a secret code. From information available in the public domain, secret SIOP/ESI ciphers used in post cold war nuclear warfare planning designated the "ground force headquarters" to categories 910xx and 911xx; while the "ground forces materiel repair and storage depot" was denoted 920XX.

[see www.nukestrat.com/pubs/SIOP%20Glossary%201999.pdf]

After watching the Da Vinci Code, the conspiracy theorist might be tempted to consider all possible permutation (rearrangements) of "911xxyy", looking at it from different angles.

Then again, it is easy to construe meaning from something which has no practical significance, whatsoever. (cf. self-fulfilling prophecy)

I'm just an ordinary person; not a professor. Interesting question though:)