Question

each step involves subtracting -1, -10, -100, or -1000 only.
example

1. start 5462, step one
2. start 5462
3. start 5462
4. start 5462
5. start 5462
6. start 9310
7. start 9310
8. start 9310
9. start 9310
10. start 3100
11. start 3100
12. start 3100
13. start 3100
14. start 3100
15. start 10000
16. start 10000
17. start 10000
18. start 10000
19. start 10000

middle result
step two
5451
4452
5352
5361
4362
8309
9209
8210
8300
9299
2000
2999
209
209
30
9

Explanation:

Let's solve the first few problems (e.g., problem 1 - 3) as examples to show the method:

Problem 1:

Step1: Analyze the start and middle result

Start is 5462, middle result is 5452. The difference is $5462 - 5452 = 10$, so Step One is $-10$.

Step2: Analyze middle result and final result

Middle result is 5452, final result is 5451. The difference is $5452 - 5451 = 1$, so Step Two is $-1$.

Step1: Find the operation for Step One

Start is 5462, let's see the final result 4452. The total difference is $5462 - 4452 = 1010$. But we do two steps. Let's check the middle result. Suppose Step One is $-1000$ (since 5462 - 1000 = 4462). Then Step Two: 4462 - 10 = 4452. Wait, no, final result is 4452. Wait, 5462 - 1000 = 4462 (Step One), then 4462 - 10 = 4452 (Step Two). Wait, but let's check the numbers. Wait, the final result is 4452. So Step One: 5462 - 1000 = 4462, Step Two: 4462 - 10 = 4452. Or maybe another way. Wait, 5462 - 100 = 5362, no. Wait, 5462 - 1000 = 4462, then 4462 - 10 = 4452. Yes. So Step One: $-1000$, Step Two: $-10$.

Step2: Verify

5462 - 1000 = 4462 (middle result), 4462 - 10 = 4452 (final result). Correct.

Step1: Find Step One

Start is 5462, final result is 5352. Total difference: 5462 - 5352 = 110. Let's split into two steps. 5462 - 10 = 5452 (Step One), then 5452 - 100 = 5352 (Step Two). Wait, 5462 - 10 = 5452 (middle result), 5452 - 100 = 5352 (final result). Yes. So Step One: $-10$, Step Two: $-100$.

Step2: Verify

5462 - 10 = 5452, 5452 - 100 = 5352. Correct.

Answer:

Step One: $-10$, Step Two: $-1$

Problem 2: