Magic With Numbers
Let’s us play some magic with numbers today. It is a very simple magic trick that will leave your spectators amazed with your magical prowess.
Materials required:
Six pieces of paper, pen or pencil, handkerchief (optional)
Important terms:
Even number – Numbers which are divisible by two are called even numbers. In other words, if you divide a number by two and you get zero as the remainder it is an even number. Example: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, …
Odd number – Numbers which are not divisible by two are called odd numbers. In other words, if you divide a number by two and you get a non-zero remainder it is an odd number. Example: 1, 3, 5, 7, …
Method:
Step 1 – Take the first paper; write 1 in front and 2 at the back. Similarly take the second paper and write 3 in front and 4 at the back. Write 5 and 6 on the third paper, 7 and 8 on the fourth, 9 and 10 on the fifth and 11 and 12 on the sixth paper.
Step 2 – Now hand over the papers to your spectator. Ask him/her to shuffle the papers and display them on the table. The papers displayed can have only three combinations. It can be only odd, only even or a mixture of even and odd numbers. Tell your spectator to find the sum of the numbers displayed.
Step 3 – Ask him/her to tell you the number of odd numbers displayed and you can at once tell the total without touching the papers or looking at them. For a dramatic effect you may close your eyes or ask your spectator to tie your eyes with a cloth.
Example:
Suppose your friend displays 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11(four odd numbers displayed 1, 5, 7 and 11) then his/her total would be 1 + 4 + 5 + 7 + 10 + 11 = 38.
Trick:
Subtract the number of odd numbers from the magic number 42.
(In this case 42 – 4 = 38).
Try it out and let us know how it went.