This question is based on the following five, three-digit numbers: (Left) 218…

In digit-position number puzzles, first identify the required number by its rank (highest, lowest, etc.) among the given set, then read off the digit at the exact position stated (first, second, third, counted from the left, as illustrated by the given example), and finally carry out the arithmetic operation asked for on those extracted digits.

1. The five three-digit numbers given are 218, 239, 846, 852, and 273.

2. Arranging them in increasing order: 218 < 239 < 273 < 846 < 852.

3. So the highest number is 852 and the lowest number is 218.

4. Counting from the left as shown in the example, the digits of 852 are: first digit = 8, second digit = 5, third digit = 2.

5. Similarly, the digits of 218 are: first digit = 2, second digit = 1, third digit = 8.

6. Adding the second digit of the highest number to the second digit of the lowest number: 5 + 1 = 6.

Checking the ordering independently by comparing the hundreds digit first (8 for 846 and 852 versus 2 or 3 for the rest) and then the tens digit within each group confirms that 852 is indeed the largest and 218 the smallest of the five numbers, so the digits used above are correct.

Hence, the required result is 6.