An Arithmetic Magic Trick

Think of a 2-digit integer. Subtract from the number the sum of its digits and find the result in the table below. Note that each cell of the table contains a number and a geometric shape. Concentrate hard on the shape that shares a cell with the result of your calculations. When ready, press the "Check it!" button ...

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This applet requires Sun's Java VM 2 which your browser may perceive as a popup. Which it is not. If you want to see the applet work, visit Sun's website at https://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp, download and install Java VM and enjoy the applet.

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What if applet does not run?

Explanation

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Copyright © 1996-2018 Alexander Bogomolny

An Arithmetic Magic Trick

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This applet requires Sun's Java VM 2 which your browser may perceive as a popup. Which it is not. If you want to see the applet work, visit Sun's website at https://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp, download and install Java VM and enjoy the applet.

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What if applet does not run?

Let the number you thought about be 10a + b. Subtracting the digits gives

(10a + b) - (a + b) = 9a

which is always a multiple of nine. If you look carefully at the table, you will not fail to notice that all multiples of 9 are in cells with the same shape. This is the shape you are to notice and concentrate on.

(Without the computer, this property of the decimal system can be used as a similar one is employed in the Math Telepathy trick: after you calculate the result and tell me one of the digits, I magically produce the other digit of that number.

Related material Read more...
	Bachet's Magic Trick
	Gergonne's Magic Trick
	Hummer's Mind Reader
	Magic in Square
	Math Telepathy
	Number Guessing Game. All by Computer
	Barcode Magic
	Arithmetic magic matrix
	Calendar Magic: an Interactive Gizmo
	Two Numbers Guessing Game

|Contact| |Front page| |Contents| |Algebra|

Copyright © 1996-2018 Alexander Bogomolny