National Council of Teachers of Mathematics January 2008

Be a MatheMagician
Would you like to be able to make your math teacher
disappear? Could you escape from a locked crate submerged
in water? Feats of magic such as these have been accom-
plished by the magicians David Blain, the Amazing Kreskin,
and the great Houdini. Do you know that mathematics can
appear magical? You can amaze your friends with surprising
number tricks! In this issue of Student Math Notes, you will use
algebra to create number tricks to convince your friends
that you have magical powers.

Guess My Number In Number Tricks 1 and 2, the steps counteract each

First try this number trick yourself, then try it on your
friends and family.
Number Trick 1: Choose a number. Add 3.
Multiply by 2. Add 8. Divide by 2. Subtract
your start number. What is your result?
other in such a way that a predetermined number always
results. In algebra, we refer to operations that counteract
each other as inverse operations (for example, adding 3 is
the inverse of subtracting 3).
5. What is the inverse of dividing by 4?

1. Repeat the trick with at least 3 different start numbers.

What is your result? Were you surprised? Why do you
think that this result occurred? 6. What step(s) could counteract multiplying by 12? Find
different ways to counteract multiplying by 12.

Now try the following number trick.

Number Trick 2: Begin with any number.

Add 2. Multiply by 10. Subtract 5. Divide by 7. Begin with any start number. What steps would coun-
5. Subtract 3. Divide by the start number. teract adding 2 then multiplying by 5?
What is your result?

2. Repeat the trick with at least 3 different start numbers.

What is your result? What is similar about Number
Tricks 1 and 2 ?
8. How are inverse operations being used in Number
Tricks 1 and 2 ? Provide an example of how inverse
operations are being used in each number trick.
As the “mathemagician” you will need to know how num-
ber tricks such as these work.
3. Look back at Number Trick 1. What observations
can you make about what is happening to the start
number? What is important about the mathematical
operations in the series of steps? Why is the order of One way to demystify the magic of number tricks is by
the steps important? using algebra and multiple representations. Let’s see what
happens to any start number in Number Trick 1. Think of
some ways that we can represent any start number.
We can represent mathematical ideas and relationships
4. Look at Number Trick 2. Which of your observations
using words, pictures, tables, graphs, drawings, models,
continue to hold true? What is important about the
manipulatives, numbers, symbols, etc. To uncover what
mathematical operations in the series of steps? Why
is happening with Number Trick 1, we will use words, pic-
is the order of the steps important?
tures (models), and algebraic notation (symbols).
Copyright © 2008 by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Inc. www.nctm.org. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
This material may not be copied or distributed electronically or in other formats without written permission from NCTM.
 Be a MatheMagician—continued
Number Trick 1

Steps Words Models Symbols

Let represent the start number. Let x represent any start

Choose a number. Choose any number.
number.
Let represent 1.

Now we have the number plus

Add 3. x+3
three.

Take the start number and 3 and

Multiply by 2. multiply both by 2. So, we have 2(x + 3) = 2x + 6
twice the start number plus 6.

We have twice the start number

Add 8. plus 6, plus 8. That gives us twice 2x + 6 + 8 = 2x + 14
the start number plus 14.

If we divide twice the start number

plus 14 into two groups, we have
Divide by 2. (2x + 14)/2 = x + 7
the start number plus seven in
each group.

Subtract the start

Take away the start number. x+7–x=7
number.

What is the result? Seven 7

The table provides different representations for illustrating the
steps in the number trick. For example, adding 3 is expressed in
words as the number plus three, in pictures as plus
, and in symbols as x + 3.
9. Look at the row for the step “Multiply by 2.” List how the other
three cells in the row show or describe multiplying by 2.
10. List how each cell shows or describes “Subtract the start
number” in that row.
11. Use words, pictures, or symbols to show why Number Trick 2
works for any start number.
15. In Number Trick 3, why don’t the inverse operations of “Add
2” and “Subtract 2” counteract each other? Explain how the
new steps in problem 13 counteract each other.
The great Houdini prided himself on creating his own escape
tricks. Let’s see if you can create some magic tricks of your own!
16. Create a number trick in which the result is always the same,
regardless of the start number. Test your trick with different
start numbers. Use words, models, or algebraic symbols to
verify that your trick will work for any start number. Try your
trick on your friends. Tell them that no matter what number
they choose, you will “magically” guess their result.

Returning to the Start 17. Create a number trick where the result is the same as the
start number. Test your trick with different start numbers. Use
Magicians often have several tricks up their sleeves, so let’s
words, models, or symbols to show why your trick works for
explore a new type of number trick. The following number trick
any number. Try your trick on your friends and family.
was designed so that the result would be the same as the start
number (a back-to-start number trick). However, the trick isn’t
The Phone Number Trick
working.
Let’s try a new trick, the Phone Number Trick. (You may want a
Number Trick 3: Think of a number. Add 2. calculator for this one.)
Multiply by 3. Subtract 2. Divide by 3. What is
The Phone Number Trick : Enter the first three
the result?
digits of your phone number (not the area
12. Test the number trick with different numbers or by using code). Multiply by 80. Add 1. Multiply by 250.
words, models, or symbols. Why doesn’t the trick work? Add the last 4 digits of your phone number
to your answer. Add the last 4 digits of your
13. Make the trick work by changing one number. Which number
phone number again. Subtract 250. Divide by
did you change, and why does it make the trick work?
2. What is the result?
14. Make the trick work by changing the order of the steps.
Were you surprised by the result? Let’s look at why it occurs.
Which steps did you change, and why does this make the
trick work?

2 NCTM Student Math Notes, January 2008

 Be a MatheMagician—continued
18. What is the result of multiplying by 80, multiplying by 250, A good place to begin creating a number trick is to determine
and dividing by 2? What effect does this have on the first the steps that are necessary to achieve the result that you want.
three digits of the phone number? Then add other steps so that the result is not so immediately
obvious. After all, you want it to seem like magic!
19. What is the effect of adding 1 before multiplying by 250?
What step counteracts this effect? The Phone Number Trick relies on multiplication by powers of 10
to get the digits into the correct positions. Let’s explore another
20. Why do we add the last four digits of the phone number trick that relies on powers of 10, the Birthday Trick.
twice?
The Birthday Trick : Start with your birth month.
Let’s use ABC-DEFG as a generic example to show why the Add 2. Multiply by 200. Subtract 400. Add the
Phone Number Trick works for any phone number. Consider the day of your birth. Add the day again. Multiply
first three digits of the phone number as a three-digit number by 5,000. Add the 4-digit year. What is the
with place value. The first digit of the phone number falls into the result?
hundreds place, the second digit into the tens place, and the
As a master mathemagician, figure out how this trick works:
third digit into the ones place. Algebraically, this is represented
by: 100A + 10B + C. Let’s see what happens to this expression 23. What is the result of multiplying by 200 and by 5,000? Why is
as we go through the steps of the Phone Number Trick: this a necessary step in this problem?
24. What is the effect of adding 2 and then multiplying by 200?
Enter the first 3 digits of your
100A + 10B + C What step counteracts this effect?
phone number.
80(100A + 10B + C) = 8000A + 25. Why do we add the day twice?
Multiply by 80.
800B + 80C 26. Why do we add the day twice before we multiply by 5000?
Add 1. 8000A + 800B + 80C + 1
27. What steps in the Birthday Trick are necessary? What steps
250(8000A + 800B + 80C + 1) = are “extra” to make the result seem magical? Revise the
Multiply by 250. 2000000A + 200000B + 20000C Birthday Trick to have fewer steps.
+ 250
28. Show or explain why the Birthday Trick works for any date.
The next step is to add the last 4 digits of the phone number. As
we did earlier, let’s represent the last four digits as a four-digit
number with place value: 1000D + 100E + 10F + G. Mathematical Content
Order of operations, place value and powers of 10, inverse op-
Add the last 4 digits of your 2000000A + 200000B + 20000C erations, doing and undoing, creating and simplifying algebraic
phone number. + 250 + 1000D + 100E + 10F + G expressions.
2000000A + 200000B + 20000C
Add the last 4 digits of your
+ 250 + 2000D + 200E + 20F +
phone number again. Can you . . .
2G
2000000A + 200000B + 20000C • revise the Phone Number Trick to include the area code?
Subtract 250.
+ 2000D + 200E + 20F + 2G • change the Birthday Trick to have a two-digit birth year rather
1000000A + 100000B + 10000C than a four-digit birth year (for example, 87 rather than 1987)?
Divide by 2.
+ 1000D + 100E + 10F + G • create a Birthday Trick with steps other than those given?

Let’s look at the result: 1000000A + 100000B + 10000C + 1000D • create a number trick where the result is today’s date?
+ 100E + 10F + G. • create a trick to figure out a person’s age?
We can rewrite this expression using powers of 10:
Did you know . . .
(106)A + (105)B + (104)C + (103)D + (102)E + (101)F + (100)G.
• that based on his great escapes, the great Houdini invented
Notice that the coefficients represent place values, with the a diving suit to prevent divers from drowning?
first digit of the phone number in the millions place and the last
digit of the phone number in the ones place. So our result is a • that the great Houdini is one of the ten most recognized ce-
seven-digit number where the digits in each place value are lebrity names in the world?
A,BCD,EFG—the digits in our original phone number! • that Houdini did not die as was originally noted: performing
The Phone Number Trick can be accomplished in fewer steps: the Water Torture Cell illusion? He died of peritonitis from a
ruptured appendix.
Enter the first three digits of your phone number (not the area
code). Multiply by 10,000. Add the last 4 digits of your phone
number to your answer. For more information
http://www.magictricks.com/houdini/bio.htm
21. Verify that this shortened version works with your phone
number.
22. Why do you think the extra steps were included in the origi-
nal Phone Number Trick?

NCTM Student Math Notes, January 2008 3

 Be a MatheMagician—continued
Answers
1. The result is always 7. The first and last steps counteract
each other, and the other steps create a result that is
always 7.
2. The result is always 2. Number Tricks 1 and 2 are similar
because
a) they both have a constant result regardless of the start
number,
b) the series of steps counteract each other, and
c) both remove the start number.
3. The start number is subtracted away. The other steps
counteract each other and determine a result that is always
7. The order of the steps is important because the steps
must counteract each other in such a way as to determine a
result of 7.
4. The observations that continue to hold true are that
a) the operations counteract each other to determine a
consistent result,
b) the order of the steps is important for the answer to be
the same each time, and
c) we cancel out the start number.
5. Multiplying by 4 is the inverse of dividing by 4.
6. Divide by 12. Samples include divide by 3 then by 4; divide
by 2 then by 6; etc.
7. Subtract 10 and divide by 5; or divide by 5 and subtract 2.
8. Inverse operations are being used to make the steps coun-
teract each other. For example, in Number Trick 1, multiply
by 2 and divide by 2. In Number Trick 2, the following five
steps counter each other: Add 2. Multiply by 10. Subtract 5.
Divide by 5. Subtract 3.
9. Words: Take the start number and 3 and multiply both by 2.
Model: +   . Symbols: 2(x + 3).
10. Words: Take away the start number.
Models:       . Symbols: x + 7 – x = 7.
11. Words: We add 2 to the start number, then multiply by 10.
The result is 10 times the start number, plus 20. Subtracting
5 gives 10 times the start number plus 15. Dividing into 5
equal groups results in 2 times the start number plus 3 in
each group. We then subtract 3, so all that is left is 2 times
the start number. Dividing by the start number leaves a
result of 2 every time. Symbols: x —> x + 2 —> 10(x + 2) = 10x
+ 20 —> 10x + 20 – 5 = 10x + 15 —> (10x + 15)/5 = 2x + 3 —> 2x
+ 3 – 3 —> 2x/2 = 2
12. Let S be the start number. S + 2 —> 3(S + 2) = 3S + 6 —> 3S +
6 – 2 = 3S + 4 —> (3S + 4)/3 = S + 4/3. The result is not S, the
start number.
13. Change “Subtract 2” to “Subtract 6.” This makes the trick
work because adding 2 and then multiplying by 3 results in
a change of +6. So, we need to subtract 6 (rather than 2).
14. Switch “Subtract 2” with “Multiply by 3.” This makes the
trick work because “Adding 2” and then “Subtracting 2”
will counteract each other. You can also switch “Subtract 2”
with “Divide by 3.” This will work because of the distributive
property: S + 2 —> 3(S + 2) = 3S + 6 —> (3S + 6)/2 = S + 2 —> S
+ 2 – 2 = S.
15. There is a “Multiply by 3” between them that results in a
change of +6. In the revised version, “Subtract 6” step
counteracts “Add 2 and Multiply by 3.”
16. For example: Think of a number. Multiply by 3. Add 4.
Multiply by 2. Subtract 8. Divide by the start number. What
is your result? In symbols: n —> 3n —> 3n + 4 —> 2(3n + 4) = 6n
+ 8 —> 6n + 8 – 8 = 6n —> 6n /n = 6.
17. For example: Think of a number. Multiply by 3. Add 4. Mul-
tiply by 2. Subtract 8. Divide by 6. What is your result? In
symbols: n —> 3n —> 3n + 4 —> 2(3n + 4) = 6n + 8 —> 6n + 8 – 8
= 6n —> 6n /6 =n.
18. 80*250 = 20,000 —> 20,000 ÷ 2 = 10,000. It results in a net
change of multiplying by 10,000 and moves the digits into
the correct position for the phone number.
19. Adding 1 before multiplying is the same as adding 250.
Subtract 250.
20. Add the last 4 digits twice because we multiplied by 2000
rather than by 1000 and because we divided by 2 at the
end.
21. For example, use phone number 123-4567: 123*10000 =
1230000 —> 1230000 + 4567 = 1234567.
22. Extra steps make it more of a challenge; the result is not
immediately obvious.
23. Multiplying by 200 and 5,000 is the same as multiplying
by 1,000,000. This moves the digits for the month into the
correct position.
24. Add 400. Subtract 400.
25. In the earlier step, we multiplied the month by 200 (rather than
100), so we must have twice the value of the day, as well.
26. Adding the day twice allows us to double the day’s date, as
we did for the month.
27. It is necessary to start with the month first; multiply by
numbers that result in appropriate powers of 10 (200*5000);
add the day, which is multiplied by 10,000; add the year.
Extra steps are adding 2, subtracting 400.
28. Consider the date AB/CB/EFGH. Similar to the Phone Num-
ber Trick, begin with the month as a two-digit number with
place value, 10A + B —> 10A + B + 2 —> 200(10A + B + 2) =
2000A + 200B + 400 —> 2000A + 200B + 400 - 400 = 2000A
+ 200B —> [consider the day to be a two-digit number with
place value, 10C + D] 2000A + 200B + 10C + D —> 2000A
+ 200B + 10C + D + 10C + D = 2000A + 200B + 20C +
2D —> 5000(2000A + 200B + 20C + 2D) = 10000000A +
1000000B + 100000C + 10000D —> [consider the year as a
four-digit number with place value, 1000E + 100F + 10G +
H] 10000000A + 1000000B + 100000C + 10000D + 1000E
+ 100F + 10G + H. This gives a 7-digit number where the
digits in each place value are AB,CDE,FGH—the digits in
our birthday!

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