The digits 2, 4, 6 and 8 are each used once to create two 2 -digit numbers. What is the smallest possible difference between the two 2-digit numbers?
(A) 24
(B) 14
(C) 18
(D) 12
(E) 22
The tens digit of a number contributes more to its value than its units digit.

Thus in order to make the difference between the numbers as small as possible, we begin by making the difference between the two numbers' tens digits as small as possible.

The smallest possible difference between the two tens digits is 2 and this is achieved in three ways only.

That is, we may allow the tens digits to be 2 and 4 , or 4 and 6 , or 6 and 8 , as shown below.

![](https://cdn.mathpix.com/cropped/2024_04_20_748fdafcde2a47412608g-232.jpg?height=130&width=727&top_left_y=1751&top_left_x=794)

Next, we complete the numbers by using the two digits that remain as the ones digits.

We continue to make the difference as small as possible by using the larger of the two remaining digits to complete the smaller number, and using the smaller of the two remaining digits to complete the larger number.

The completion of the three possible cases as well as their respective differences are shown below.

| 46 | 62 | 82 |
| ---: | ---: | ---: |
| -28 | -48 | -64 |
| 18 | -14 |  |

The smallest possible difference is $62-48=14$.

ANSWER: (B)