Luhn

Credit Card numbers are (most times) 13 to 16 digit numbers which are protected by a special numerical check, called Luhn check.
Each digit is multiplied by the alternating factors 2 and 1 (last digit is always multiplied by 1). Of each calculation result, the digits of the result are summed together. Then, these sums are totalized. Finally, to be a valid Credit Card number, the total must be divisible by 10.

Example (Credit Card number: 1234 5678 7654 3210):

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
2 2 6 4 10 6 14 8 14 6 10 4 6 2 2 0
2 + 2 + 6 + 4 + (1+0) + 6 + (1+4) + 8 + (1+4) + 6 + (1+0) + 4 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 0
2 + 2 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 6 + 5 + 8 + 5 + 6 + 1 + 4 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 0 = 60 = N*10


2000-02-15