POW #2 - The Magician

A magician has an ordinary deck of playing cards. (Ace (1) through King (13), of 4 suits,

52 cards total) He gives them to his subject, turns his back, and has her shuffle the deck

thoroughly.

Keeping his back to her so he can’t see what she’s doing, he then tells her to make

some piles according to these instructions.

1) First, she must turn over the top card. If this card is a face card (Jack, Queen, or

King), she must put the card back in the deck. If the card is a Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,

8, 9, or 10, then she should place that card on the table face up.

2) Beginning with the number on that card, she should count to herself until she

gets to 12. With each new number, she should deal one card on top of the pile

she has started. For example, if the top card was a 8, she would start her count

at 8. The next card will be “9”, 3nd card “10”, 4rd card “11”, and stop after dealing

the 5th card into the pile.

3) Once the pile is complete, repeat steps 1 and 2 until all the cards have been

dealt. If she runs out of cards while trying to complete a pile, she shall pick up the

cards of the incomplete pile.

The subject follows the instructions perfectly and hands the cards from her incomplete pile

She gives him five cards, but does not look at which cards they are. He also sees that

she has made six complete piles.

He then tells her to take the top card from each pile and add up the numerical values of

the cards together.

Before she could tell him the sum the magician already said the sum out loud, and being

a good magician, it was correct. . What was the sum and how did you figure that out?

Honors Question: What is the smallest sum and the largest sum if you were to remain with 5

cards in your hand at the end? (Can be as many or as few piles as possible.)

Problem Statement: Given a standard deck of playing cards (52 cards in total without both
jokers) with values ranging from Ace (1) to King (13), of 4 suits. You shuffle the deck thoroughly.
And look at the first card. If this card is a face card (Jack, Queen, or King), you must put the
card back in the deck. If the card is a Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, then you should place that
card on the table face up. Then begin with the number on that card, you count the card until the
number gets to 12. (For example, if the top card was a 10, you should start the count at 10. The
next card will be “11”, and stop after dealing the 3rd card into the pile.) repeat this until all the
cards have been dealt. You have 5 cards left. And you made six complete piles. What is the
sum of the top card? What is the smallest sum and the largest sum if you were to remain with 5
cards in your hand at the end? This can be as many piles as you want.

Process/Work:
1. I know there were 52 cards, and there are 5 cards left, so the sum of those 6 piles of
cards is 47 because 52-5=47.
2. I list how many cards to 12 in each number of cards. I know that if I start with card 1 it
will take 12 cards to 12. 2 would be 11, 3 would be 10, 4 would be 9, 5 would be 8,6
would be 7, 6 would be 6, 8 would be 5, 9 would be 4, 10 would be 3.
3. I know there are 4 suits so each number has 4 cards. So I try to start with which 6
numbers add up to equal 47. (The 6 numbers must be between 3-12 and each number
can be used 4 times because there are 4 suits, because on step 2 I show the numbers
of cards they need in each number.)
4. So I try 8+8+8+8+9+6=47, the sum of top card is 5+5+5+5+4+7=31
5. I try another one 9+9+9+9+6+5=47, the sum of the top card is 4+4+4+4+7+8=31
6. Another one is 6+6+6+6+12+11=47, the some of the top card is 7+7+7+7+1+2=31
7. After these steps I know that the 6 numbers between 3-12 add together equal 47, the
sum of the top cards added together must be 31.
 8. Now for the smallest sum and the largest sum is for the smallest sum I want to keep the
top cards all be ACE(1) is possible. Because that will make it the smallest sum.
9. So I try 4 ACE first because it will make the smallest sum but it does not work because
(4*12=48) it will use 48 cards and we need to sum 47.
10. So I switch to 3 ACE and one 2 the works because (3*12+11=47) they will add up to 47
and the smallest sum for the top card will be 5(1+1+1+2=5)
11. For the largest sum I will try to use all the 10 and 9 or 8 as possible because it will make
the largest sum.
12. So I tried four 10, four 9, two 8, and one 4. This will work because (3*4+4*4+2*5+9=47)
they add up to 47 cards and the sum of the top cards is equal to 96(3*10+3*9+2*8+4 is
equal to 96) which is the largest sum.

13.

Solution:
The solution is that the sum of the 6 piles is 31 and the smallest sum is 5, the largest sum is 96.

Evaluation:
During this POW I learned how to break down the problem into smaller parts, and
identifying patterns. For example, make the problem more easily to see. This work has
improved my ability to approach and solve problems in an organized and simple way. I
can use this skill outside of class in my future where problem-solving skills are
necessary.

Rubric:
 Self-Grade Points
Problem Statement: The problem statement should be a condensed
version of what the problem says in your own words. You should be
able to give this to another teacher and they should have an idea of /2
what you are trying to solve. This should also include some sort of
mathematical language.
Process/Work: This section is the bulk of the write up. This should
clearly describe all of the methods that you tried in detail. If a method
was unsuccessful, what did you learn from it and how did it shape your
approach? This should show your method from the start to finish
whether or not you were able to find a solution. If you received
assistance, describe how it helped (or didn’t help) you and what ideas
/4
or methods resulted from this assistance. This is for you to show me
your thinking and the direction that you went with the problem. Does
not need to include who you got assistance from, exactly what you did,
but should be mathematically what you solved and why.
Solution: Clearly state your answer. State your solution as a sentence
that states what you solved and what the answer is.
/2
Evaluation: Describe your work on the POW. What did you learn
about while working through this POW, How did this assist your /2
abilities to problem solve outside of PreCalculus class.
/10