mrdmnd · December 12, 2015 01:58 · Feb 2, 2013 · Feb 2, 2013
diff --git a/gistfile1.txt → fouriest.py b/gistfile1.txt → fouriest.py
diff --git a/gistfile1.txt b/gistfile1.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import string
+# Algorithm for SMBC #2874 - the "fouriest" transform.
+# Support bases 2-36.
+BASE_LIST = string.digits + string.letters
+
+
+def encode(integer, base):
+    # Stolen off the internet from somewhere,
+    # almost certainly guaranteed to be buggy.
+    base_list = BASE_LIST[:base]
+    ret = ''
+    while integer != 0:
+        ret = base_list[integer % base] + ret
+        integer /= base
+    return ret
+
+def transform(inp):
+    # inp (integer) - A base-10 encoded integer to be transformed.
+    # Returns (best_string, best_base) tuple.
+    inp_str = str(inp)
+    best_base = '10'
+    best_string = inp_str
+    max_num_fours = inp_str.count('4')
+    for i in range(5, len(BASE_LIST)):
+        # No base less than 5 will contain any '4' characters.
+        tmp = encode(inp, i)
+        cnt = tmp.count('4')
+        if cnt > max_num_fours:
+            max_num_fours = cnt
+            best_base = str(i)
+            best_string = tmp
+    return best_string, best_base
+
+
+# Usage:
+# fouriest.transform(624)
+# ('4444', '5')