Dear Mathemagicians, Would you like to wow and amaze your friends? Try out the tricks below. Are they really magic? Or is there something else going on? Be sure to practice a few times before performing your trick for an audience. Have fun!
Bewitched! Materials: Calculator Tell a friend that you have put a spell on their calculator. To prove it, ask them to follow your directions. Do it a few times and they may be really convinced!
What's the Difference? Materials: Paper and pencil Preparation: Secretly write down the number 198 (your prediction!) on a piece of paper and set it aside. Presentation: 1. Ask a friend to write down any 3-digit number whose digits are in consecutive, decreasing order. (i.e. 654) 2. Ask your friend to reverse the number (456) and write it down. 3. Finally, ask your friend to subtract the two numbers. (654-456= ?) Reveal your prediction! The answer will always be 198! But why???