Instant Magician Status

[Billhook]

My father found this little trick in the New Scientist magazine many years ago

It works well if you write the answer on a piece of paper and hide it somewhere, in a book or drawer.  It works better if you ask the victim to use their calculator as although it is simple maths for my generation, I am constantly amazed how many people cannot even do basic maths.

 

 

Think of a three figure number.

All numbers different and no zeros 

eg 123

reverse 321 and take the smaller from the larger.  In this case the answer Is 198

reverse this number 891 and add it to the previous one

891+198= 1089

and 1089 is the number you will end up with every time

The main thing not to do when you have amazed all with your psychic talents is to tell all that it works for any three numbers!

Save it for Boxing Day perhaps with the family.

Perhaps some wizard can explain why this always works?

 

I noticed that the lass at our local garage had 1089 on her private number plate so I did the trick and I am now treated like a God whenever I go there!

 

ps it works for four figures as well but the answer is 10890

[Honda]

Not quite right:

 

Take any 3 digit number between 201 and 998 provided that the hundreds digit is bigger than the ones digit and do the following:

• Write down the number 523.
• swap the first and last digits 325.
• Now subtract the two numbers =198.
• Now swap the first and last digits of the new number and add them 198+891=1089 always.

 

 

Edit to add:  I cannot see why the hundreds digit needs to be greater than the ones digit because you are going to subtract the smaller from the bigger anyway. And, it doesn't work for 312 and probably other numbers.

Edited November 14, 2019 by Honda

[Billhook]

2 hours ago, Honda said:

Not quite right:

 

Take any 3 digit number between 201 and 998 provided that the hundreds digit is bigger than the ones digit and do the following:

• Write down the number 523.
• swap the first and last digits 325.
• Now subtract the two numbers =198.
• Now swap the first and last digits of the new number and add them 198+891=1089 always.

 

 

Edit to add:  I cannot see why the hundreds digit needs to be greater than the ones digit because you are going to subtract the smaller from the bigger anyway. And, it doesn't work for 312 and probably other numbers.

It certainly does work for 312, but you must insert the zero 

so 099 +990= 1089

[Honda]

Ah! Good point!