Number Factoring Game

I lost by 435 (420-855) by picking 2, 48, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38, 40, 42, 46, 50

Wow! I managed 800-475 for a 325 point win by always picking the largest number with only one factor left. How did you push it up to 808-467?

Actually I see where my algorithm fails to be optimal. Near the end it basically trades 32 for 24 unnecessarily. I wonder if anyone has proven an optimal algorithm for this game.

No, the last three strictly following my algorithm are 24, 48, 40, which is not as good as instead picking 32, 48, 40 which gets my score to match yours.

Yeah I did. I'm just curious as to whether or not there is an algorithm that will always give you the correct result (ie if the quiz went to 75 instead of 50).

YES I beat him by 103 points, my trick was to start out by avoiding any numbers that are divisible by 2,3, and 4, which mostly left numbers only divisible by 5, and 7 then gradually started with numbers that were divisble by 3 then finally the ones with 2. But you always have to make sure the number you choose is the largest possible, always compare with the numbers in the diagonal row with that number. it took about 10 mins for my game so be patient

Love this game!!

I know the first number should be the highest prime number as you pretty much have to lose all the prime numbers... Took me about 5 goes to win by 25

For the math challenged (like me): I would start with high numbers with very few factors. Start with 47, the highest prime. Next, take 49 because it's only factor is 7, so after those two moves, you're winning 96-8. Then grab the numbers whose only factors are prime numbers that are already off the board. After the first selection, all the primes come off the board because their only factor is 1. So take 38, because you've already lost 19. Take 46 because you've already lost 23. Take 34 because you've already lost 17. Next, be careful about the multiples of 4 and 8. It's tempting to take 48, but then you lose 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, and then, because all its factors are gone, 32. That's a bad trade. Wait until only one or two of those factors are left to grab 48. Instead, think from the middle. Take 22 before 44, because the factor 4 will keep 44 alive, but if you take 44 first, you'll lose 22. I'm sure there is a more exact science, but this has been working for me.

I won by 33 on my first attempt, without really understanding what I was doing! Beginner's luck. Having read the comments I now have a clearer idea, so will try again...and probably lose drastically!

Yup, lost by 199!

47, 49, 25, 39, 26, 8, 50, 45, 40, 46, 38, 34, 12, 22, 28, 32, 36, 42, 48...667-608 win

Eh?

OMG i won (by 43)

beat it by 647 also

lost by 83

I lost by only 75, by picking 47, 46, 49, 9, 36, 38, 39, 42, 50, 48, 34, 45, 33, 44, 40 (in that order). I know that the best first number is 47 because the score will become 47-1, the biggest advantage.

SPOILER ALERT! THIS COMMENT REVEALS A WAY TO BEAT THE TAXMAN BY 159! I beat the taxman by 159! I used 47, 49, 35, 21, 33, 22, 44, 42, 18, 36, 46, 39, 45, 38, 34, 30, 48, 40, 50

I lost by 1 after the following sequence 47, 49, 4, 6, 25, 26, 46, 50, 45, 40, 24, 42, 33, 38, 34, 48, 36, 44

I beat him by 21