You are missing the fact that the kata is not about a regular binary encoding, but about BCD encoding. Youl need to look up what BCD is and how it works.

Think about the digits.
Read this for more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary-coded_decimal

I've been working at a leading ball bearing factory for 34 years:

6 years as apprentice ball bearing manufacturer, 6 years as junior ball bearing inspector, 8 years as senior ball bearing inspector, 3 years as ball bearing design engineer, 5 years as ball bearing advanced applications advisor, 3 years as ball bearings as-a-service (BBaaS) consultant, 2 years as ball bearing factory manager (and 1 year where I was injured - a horrific ball bearing safety related incident that I won't go into here).

Needless to say I'm very disappointed with your attitude - the ball bearing industry needs forward thinking people, who aren't afraid to get stuck in with a problem-solving attitude, who don't just give up at the first obstacle they encounter.

This kata was a highly-realistic simulation of the kind of situation we encounter daily in our industry; if you weren't able to stick with it, I'm afraid I won't be able to take your job application to our ball bearing factory any further.

Best of luck in your career outside the exciting ball bearing industry,