(Not so) Unbelievable Math Problem
I got this in an email the other day. I love these things. They used to drive me crazy.I know I know. "So that's what did it !!". Anyway, whenever I get one, I try to figure out just how they work. They really aren't so Magic after all. Here's the actual text of the email.
Here is a math trick so unbelievable that it will stump you. Personally I would like to know who came up with this and why that person is not running the country. I wonder what it means...
- Grab a calculator. (you won't be able to do this one in your head)
- Key in the first three digits of your phone number (NOT the area code)
- Multiply by 80
- Add 1
- Multiply by 250
- Add the last 4 digits of your phone number
- Add the last 4 digits of your phone number again.
- Subtract 250
- Divide number by 2
And of course I wouldn't leave you without a handy dandy calculator, now would I ?
Do you recognize the answer? Can you figure out why it's not magic? I'll give you a hint. It involves algebra and you have two variables. You can do this!