Magic 11!!! Love it, Kiss it, Marry it!!!

IMPORTANT: This activity does not require calculators, so please put 'em away!!!

Ok, after putting away your calculators, let's start the activity!

Without using a calculator (obviously), solve the following in 3 seconds:

54 x 11

1 .......... 2 ............ 3 ................

Done? Did you get 594? How long did you take?

For those who know the trick behind this, then bye! But for those who are interested after this snippet, read on!

Ok, as mentioned, we are not going to use calculators. Today, I'm going to introduce to you a fabulous software, created on 1996. Introducing The Brain v13.0!!!

This powerful software allows you to calculate such stuff in a few seconds, only that you will have to know the code, just like C++. Programming. Yeah.

Ok, so let me tell you how I solve it first before I introduce the code.

You see, the answer is:

5 5+4 4

which is

595

So the trick is to add the side two numbers together to form the middle number. And then slot in the remaining two numbers to the side!

You get me?

Ok, let's try another one.

42 x 11

1 ......... 2 ............ 3 .............

Did you get 462? Then you are right!!! Yay!

Here is a more challenging one.

48 x 11

Hehe....

This time round it is:

4 4+8 8
4+1 2 8
528

So you carry the 1 over and add it in.

So what if it is....

95 x 11

See how I do it!

9 9+5 5
9 14 5
9+1 4 5
10 4 5
1045

So you add in the 1 to the 9 and slot it in!

So the code is:

1st no. + side no. addition + side no. addition + ....... + side no. addition + Last no.

What do I mean? I mean, slot the first number to the front, then for every gap you see between two digits, add the digits by the side (of the gap) together. Then finally, slot in the last number.

For example:

554 x 11

5 (5+5) (5+4) 6
5 (10) (9) 6
(5+1) (0) (9) 6
6096

Get it?

With more practice, your The Brain v13.0 will be able to do it soon in 3 seconds!

And just in case you are wondering, The Brain v13.0 has automatically being installed to your computer the moment you see this post.

Do venture with it and come up with new tricks from it!

Enjoy! Remember, love it, kiss it, marry it!!! :D

Pascal Triangle

Hello everyone ,

This time is Sheng Yao posting, i will be introducing the concepts on Pascal Triangle.


To view it , visit this URL :http://cid-0e5ba0ce5568e478.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Pascal%20Triangle?uc=1&nl=1


Have Fun reading it!

And do comment !

Number Magic

Do the following:

1. Think of a number.
2. Multiply it by 3.
3. Add 4
4. Multiply it by 2.
5. Subtract 2.
6. Divide it by 3.
7. Add 4.
8. Divide it by 2.
9. Take the number you have think of minus the final answer.
10. Is your answer 3?

This works for every number (including infinity!). Some of you might have known the trick behind it, but for others who are curious, read on.

And the secret formula is, ALGEBRA!!!

Look at how algebra can be used to solve this:

1. Think of a number. (x)
   
2. Multiply it by 3. (3x)
   
3. Add 4 (3x+4)
   
4. Multiply it by 2. (6x+8)
   
5. Subtract 2. (6x+6)
   
6. Divide it by 3. (2x+2)
   
7. Add 4. (2x+6)
   
8. Divide it by 2. (x+3)
   
9. Take the number you have think of minus the final answer. (3)
   
10. Is your answer 3? (Yes!)

This is actually the trick behind all of these number magics. All they do is to make it so complicated that you are amazed by the "magic" behind it, and when they say, "there is a secret formula behind it...", you will be so amazed that you keep thinking about it all they long.

There are many methods of presenting this magic trick. Take for example that I'm testing Sheng Yao:

Me: Think of a number.
S.Y.: Yep.
Me: Multiply 4.
S.Y.: Yep.
Me: Add 10.
S.Y.: Yea...
Me: Divide by 2.
S.Y.: Um.... ok.
Me: Add 5.
S.Y.: Ok.
Me: Divide by 2.
S.Y.: Yep.
Me: What is the number?
S.Y.: 15.
Me: Is your original number 10?
S.Y.: How did you know?

This is a simple trick. Now let us work it out.

1. Think of a number. (x)
2. Multiply 4. (4x)
3. Add 10. (4x+10)
4. Divide by 2. (2x+5)
5. Add 5. (2x+10)
6. Divide by 2. (x+5)
7. What is the number? (x+5)
8. Is the original number ____? (Just take the number that he gave you in Step 7 and subtract it by 5!)

Simple, isn't it?

There are many other ways to present this trick, so I wish to discuss this with you! Just leave a comment in the comment box, or send us an email!

Quiz on Logarithm

What is the answer for the above question? Write your answer in the poll at the side. The answer will be revealed on Wednesday, 27/5/09.

Answer: 9

Videos - Quadratics

Here is a video, though a bit lame...



Solve quadratic equation by factoring...

Bulletin - Quadratics

Click here to access to my bulletin on quadratics (don't worry, it's in pdf file).

Do comment on it so that I can improve on it.

You can upload your own file on your own SkyDrive and post the link here! (Only accessible to Hotmail or MSN users)