Digits of Distress

Mr. Alden’s final chance rests in your hands. The keypad’s attempt log shows every guess he’s made so far, along with hints about which digits are correct and where they belong.

Your challenge:
Use the clues from the attempt log to figure out the correct 3-digit code.

No digit is used more than once.

You only have one chance to get it right before the system locks.

Enter your 3-digit code below to see if you’ve cracked it:


  • Exactly one digit is correct and already in the right spot.

  • Candidates for that correct spot are: 5 in slot 1, or 7 in slot 2, or 4 in slot 3. Keep all three in mind for now.

  • Here, exactly one digit is correct but in the wrong spot.

  • The only overlap with Attempt 1 is 5. That tells you 5 is in the code, but not in slot 2 here.

  • Combine with Attempt 1: the simplest fit is 5 belongs in slot 1.

  • This makes 7 and 4 from Attempt 1 non‑members of the code.

  • Eliminated so far: 7, 4.

  • Exactly two digits are in the code, both in the wrong spots.

  • Since 7 and 4 are out, and 5 is already fixed in slot 1, the two good digits here must be 0 and 2.

  • Placement info: 0 is not slot 1, 2 is not slot 3.

  • Exactly one digit is correct and well placed.

  • From Hint 3 you know 2 is in the code, and here it appears in the middle. So 2 is slot 2.

  • With 5 in slot 1 and 2 in slot 2, the remaining correct digit is either 0 or 3, and from Hint 3 we know 0/3 cannot be slot 1, so 0/3 must be slot 3.

  • Nothing here is in the code. That confirms the eliminations of 7 and 1, and also confirms 3 is out.

  • Your final code is 520.