Interesting math problem

[DisgruntledVirus]

Got this email from a coworker expecting it to be some really stupid math problem. It did what I figured it would do, but none the less the math behind it is kind of cool. Here's the email:

Try this one!

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.

1. GRAB A CALCULATOR---NOT AN ADDING MACHINE. (YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS ONE IN YOUR HEAD)
2. KEY IN THE FIRST THREE DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER (NOT THE AREA CODE)
3. MULTIPLY BY 80
4. ADD 1
5. MULTIPLY BY 250
6. ADD THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER
7. ADD THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER AGAIN.
8. SUBTRACT 250
9. DIVIDE NUMBER BY 2

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE ANSWER?

 

[thehstrybean]

OMG SATAN!!!!

 

[timosyy]

I lol'd at math trick = running the country.

 

[matas]

pretty good

 

[Cristatus]

OMGWTFBBQ, I have to tell the whole world about this!

(C)

 

[Q]

There are a lot like this, I believe (the trick thing)

 

[BrianH1]

Originally posted by: thehstrybean
OMG SATAN!!!!

 

[CraKaJaX]

O WOW!!!!!!!!!111111111111111111111

Math problem? it's not a problem when the instructions are GIVEN TO YOU. I wish every "math problem" was like this one. My GPA would be outstanding!

 

[Shadow Conception]

THERE IS NO SPOONE

 

[LS21]

33566

 

[Scarpozzi]

Umm......I'm more impressed that someone took the time to come up with a bunch of numbers that work out this way than anything... I'm certainly not surprised that it works simply because of the number of steps. 6/10

 

[SpunkyJones]

GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Arcadio]

Reps for the explanation. I am too lazy to figure it out...

 

[MattCo]

now, if you could make it give my phone number without me typing it in, then I would be impressed.

 

[TallBill]

Amazing fruit.

 

[kranky]

Too many unnecessary steps in that method.

- key in the 1st 3 digits of your phone number
- multiply by 10,000
- add the last 4 digits of your phone number
Voila!

If you wanted to make it, say, more complicated, you could...
- key in the 1st 3 digits of your phone number
- multiply by 50
- add 10
- multiply by 800
- add the last 4 digits of your phone number
- add the last 4 digits of your phone number again
- add the last 4 digits of your phone number again
- add the last 4 digits of your phone number again
- subtract 8000
- divide by 4

 

[outofloop]

1. GRAB A CALCULATOR---NOT AN ADDING MACHINE. (YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS ONE IN YOUR HEAD)
2. KEY IN THE FIRST THREE DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER (NOT THE AREA CODE) - 100x + 10y + z
3. MULTIPLY BY 80 - 8000x + 800y + 80z
4. ADD 1 - 8000x + 800y + 80z + 1
5. MULTIPLY BY 250 - 2000000x + 200000y + 20000z + 250
6. ADD THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER - 2000000x + 200000y + 20000z + 250 + 1000a + 100b + 10c + d
7. ADD THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER AGAIN. - 2000000x + 200000y + 20000z + 250 + 2000a + 200b + 20c + 2d
8. SUBTRACT 250 - 2000000x + 200000y + 20000z + 2000a + 200b + 20c + 2d
9. DIVIDE NUMBER BY 2 - 1000000x + 100000y + 10000z + 1000a + 100b + 10c + d

where x,y,z,a,b,c,d are the 7 digits of your phone number

 

[interchange]

x
80x
80x + 1
(80x + 1)250
(80x + 1)250 + y + y
(80x + 1)250 + y + y
(80x + 1)250 + y + y - 250
((80x + 1)250 + y + y - 250) / 2
--------------------------------------
(250*80*x + 250 + 2y - 250)/2
(250*80*x + 2y)/2
250*40*x + y
1000x + y

lame

 

[Lorax]

odd, i tried this on my adding machine and nothing happened.

 

[Vehemence]

Fuck math.

 

[SlowSpyder]

So you enter all the numbers of your phone number and it magically gives you your phone number. Wow... magic!

 

[bonkers325]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
So you enter all the numbers of your phone number and it magically gives you your phone number. Wow... magic!

he's a witch!

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: bonkers325

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
So you enter all the numbers of your phone number and it magically gives you your phone number. Wow... magic!

he's a witch!

Burn him.

 

[Reel]

Instead of your phone number, use 531-8008. Then turn it upside down! Hell, just type it in your calculator 5318008 and turn the calculator upside down. I probably should be running the country.

 

[Argo]

It doesn't work!

I followed the instructions and all my calculator said was "Fuck You"