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[Cthulhu]

I've been asked to solve a puzzle.  So far I haven't had much luck.

8880=5 1234=0 6328=3 4566=2 1259=1 4578=2 2604=2 5555=0 6666=4 3232=0 9806=5 3214=0 1569=?

I know one thing:  The fifth number of each equation is the amount of some element present in the first four numbers.  It has to be something not just present on the digits (like how many prime numbers) because some of them have five and they're always four digits.

Stuff I've tried:

Dividing the first block by the second number and seeing if it all comes out to one number (Can't divide by zero so that's wrong).

I'm thinking breaking them up into multiples of whatever might be the key but I haven't done that in so long I'm not sure I remember how.

Anybody have any insights?

[RedKing]

The order of the elements doesn't seem to matter, so whatever it is probably doesn't involve subtraction or division (unless it's doing it in blocks of equal value somehow).

1234=0
3214=0

I had thought that it had to do with the last digit of the sum, because all the ones that equal zero have sums that are multiples of 10.

1234=0 (10)
5555=0 (20)
3232=0 (10)
3214=0 (10)

But this doesn't hold true for the other examples.
8880=5 (24)
9806=5 (23)

[cerapa]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Its the number of circles.

6 is one, 0 is one, 9 is one and 8 is two. So 1569 = 2.

I didnt figure it out myself though.

EDIT: Spoilered in case you want to figure it out yourself.

[Cthulhu]

That doesn't apply to the first set though.

I'll try that though.

[cerapa]

That doesn't apply to the first set though.

I'll try that though.

Ah, yes, didnt notice 8880 = 5

If that just isnt a typo or something, then I dont have a clue.

[Cthulhu]

It must be a typo because 2 was the answer

[RedKing]

yeah, I just manged to google the answer as well. Sneaky, because the puzzle has absolute jack-all to do with math.

[Hubris Incalculable]

if i may contribute another boggler (i know this one already):

1
11
21
1211
111221
312211
13112221
1113213211
31131211131221

i could go farther, but this is good enough