Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Sensei Meela · 08-21-2005, 08:08 AM

http://www.care2.com/ecards/build/1/5555

EssEff · 08-21-2005, 08:19 AM

Hmmm it didn't work for me. 56-11=45 and the symbol that showed up was the one for 46. Other times it did seem to work.

On the other hand, it couldn't tell when I wasn't thinking of a number. Shouldn't there be a symbol for "Hey, skeptic we told you to think of a number!"

Splarnst · 08-21-2005, 08:19 AM

If you notice, the symbol that is shown is listed a number of times. There are only certain numbers that can be the result of the calculation, and all of those have the same symbol. It took me a few tries to notice this.

Sensei Meela · 08-21-2005, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scifinerdgrl

On the other hand, it couldn't tell when I wasn't thinking of a number. Shouldn't there be a symbol for "Hey, skeptic we told you to think of a number!"

Heh...I tried that once and it showed me a smilie face, as if to say, "Cheater!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idisto

If you notice, the symbol that is shown is listed a number of times. There are only certain numbers that can be the result of the calculation, and all of those have the same symbol. It took me a few tries to notice this.

I noticed the repetition and cycling of the symbols, and figured that had something to do with it.

How many possible answers are there? [My math is terrible, so I'm not sure how to figure it out]

reddish · 08-21-2005, 08:45 AM

A two-digit number must be at least 10, and at most 99.

If you do the calculation for all these numbers, you get the following pattern:

10..19 yield 9
20..29 yield 18
30..39 yield 27
40..49 yield 36
50..59 yield 45
60..69 yield 54
70..79 yield 63
80..89 yield 72
90..99 yield 81

Now notice that at each try, the symbol listed in the table for the numbers 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, and 81 are always identical (although different on successive runs), and identical to the symbol shown after clicking. The other symbols are just there to hide this.

Sensei Meela · 08-21-2005, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddish

A two-digit number must be at least 10, and at most 99.

If you do the calculation for all these numbers, you get the following pattern:

10..19 yield 9
20..29 yield 18
30..39 yield 27
40..49 yield 36
50..59 yield 45
60..69 yield 54
70..79 yield 63
80..89 yield 72
90..99 yield 81

Now notice that at each try, the symbol listed in the table for the numbers 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, and 81 are always identical (although different on successive runs), and identical to the symbol shown after clicking. The other symbols are just there to hide this.

Fantastic! I knew there was some sort of math-e-magic to it...

Newton's Cat · 08-21-2005, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sensei Meela

http://www.care2.com/ecards/build/1/5555

It works with me every time. No matter what number I select it always shows the correct symbol when I click on the Crystal Ball.

You have to be a "telepath" for it to work.

Newton's Cat · 08-21-2005, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newton's Cat

You have to be a "telepath" for it to work.

I have now sussed it - hmm ....

baron greenback · 08-21-2005, 06:13 PM

It didn't work for me. My favorite number happens to be -23. 2 and 3 is five, and -23-5=-28. There wasn't a symbol for my number, so I picked the symbol for 28. Actually, I tried a few other numbers, and it didn't work for any of them.

Maybe mine's broken?

orac · 08-21-2005, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newton's Cat

It works with me every time. No matter what number I select it always shows the correct symbol when I click on the Crystal Ball.

I have to ask, and I hope you're not offended by this: were you actually serious when you posted this?

(Just wondering, because I know people who consider this sort of trick to actually be proof of telepathy, and I've never understood why they don't first consider the possibility that it's a trick and not actual magic. The ever-popular "it works, I can't see how, it must be magic" option just depresses me.)

08-21-2005, 08:08 AM	#1
Sensei Meela Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: AZ, u.s.a. Posts: 1,202	Mind reading? (How the hell does this work?) http://www.care2.com/ecards/build/1/5555

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08-21-2005, 08:19 AM	#2
EssEff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 5,641	Hmmm it didn't work for me. 56-11=45 and the symbol that showed up was the one for 46. Other times it did seem to work. On the other hand, it couldn't tell when I wasn't thinking of a number. Shouldn't there be a symbol for "Hey, skeptic we told you to think of a number!"

08-21-2005, 08:19 AM	#3
Splarnst Contributor Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 13,161	If you notice, the symbol that is shown is listed a number of times. There are only certain numbers that can be the result of the calculation, and all of those have the same symbol. It took me a few tries to notice this.

08-21-2005, 08:45 AM	#5
reddish Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Delft, The Netherlands Posts: 1,015	A two-digit number must be at least 10, and at most 99. If you do the calculation for all these numbers, you get the following pattern: 10..19 yield 9 20..29 yield 18 30..39 yield 27 40..49 yield 36 50..59 yield 45 60..69 yield 54 70..79 yield 63 80..89 yield 72 90..99 yield 81 Now notice that at each try, the symbol listed in the table for the numbers 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, and 81 are always identical (although different on successive runs), and identical to the symbol shown after clicking. The other symbols are just there to hide this.

08-21-2005, 06:13 PM	#9
baron greenback Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Denver Posts: 200	It didn't work for me. My favorite number happens to be -23. 2 and 3 is five, and -23-5=-28. There wasn't a symbol for my number, so I picked the symbol for 28. Actually, I tried a few other numbers, and it didn't work for any of them. Maybe mine's broken?

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