Amaze your friends, well maybe amaze is too strong a word

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a number trick that involves manipulating digits of a chosen number to reveal a circled digit. Participants engage in trying the trick and sharing their experiences, while also introducing their own variations of number tricks.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a trick involving a 3 or 4 digit number where the final result reveals a circled digit based on specific manipulations of the digits.
  • Another participant successfully performs the trick and reveals their final number as 8, leading to a confirmation of their circled digit.
  • There is a playful exchange about whether to reveal how the trick works or to let others figure it out themselves.
  • A new trick is introduced by another participant, which involves picking a two-digit odd number between 1 and 50, with specific conditions on the digits.
  • Confusion arises regarding the conditions of the new trick, with one participant admitting to misreading the instructions and mistakenly picking a number that did not meet the criteria.
  • Another participant expresses interest in learning the original trick to perform it themselves.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally engage in playful experimentation with the tricks, but there is some confusion regarding the rules of the new trick, indicating a lack of consensus on the conditions. The discussion remains open-ended with no definitive resolution on the tricks' mechanics.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the rules of the new trick, and there is a mention of prior exposure to similar tricks on a TV show, which may influence their understanding and participation.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in mathematical tricks, number games, or social activities involving playful challenges may find this discussion engaging.

tribdog
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Here's a neat little trick I just learned:
Tell your friend to write down a 3 or 4 digit number, but don't let you see it (it can actually be any number of digits over 2, but if your friends are like mine they get confused easily). Tell them to use a variety of different numbers. Let's say our friend picks 1234. Now tell them to rearrange those digits into a new number, like 4321 or 2143 or 3241 etc, again don't let you see it. Let's say they pick 4123. Now tell them to subtract the small one from the big one. 4123-1234=2889. Now tell them to circle one of the digits in their answer, but don't circle a 0, cause it's already a circle. We'll say they circle the 9, tell them to take the uncircled digits and rearrange them and tell you that number, 288 or 828 etc. and you will tell them what digit they have circled. Someone want to try? Then I'll tell you how it's done, although once you look at it closely you'll probably figure it out. It is pretty neat though.
 
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OK! I've got an number and did the calculations.. now what? The final number is 8.
 
Originally posted by Monique
OK! I've got an number and did the calculations.. now what? The final number is 8.

Then you circled a 1
 
correct! You are the new oracle??
 
Just call me "Nostrildumbass"
should I say how the trick is done, or should I let people try to figure it out?
 
Let's wait a while and see who else want to test your mighty brain :P

I've got one too: you should follow your initial hunch!

Pick a two digit number between 1 and 50
The number cannot have two digits the same,
It can only be an ODD number.
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by Monique
Let's wait a while and see who else want to test your mighty brain :P

I've got one too: you should follow your initial hunch!

Pick a number between 1 and 50
The number cannot have two digits the same,
It can only be an ODD number.

alright I've got one.
 
Last edited:
is it a two digit number? it should have two digits
 
let me check, one, two. yep two digitss
 
  • #10
Originally posted by Monique
37!
wow, amazing, wrong, but amazing

sorry, I think I misread your instructions. I just picked an odd number, you meant both digits have to be odd right? sorry. plus I saw this trick on some TV show. so I shouldn't have even participated, and once participating I shouldn't have screwed it up.
 
  • #11
Tribdog I need to know your trick so I can perform it
 

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