yonmei

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06:43 pm: Spooky, ooo...
Play once and return here

The software asks you to think of a 2-digit number - either remember it or write it down. Click on Next. The software asks you to add the two digits together and subtract them from the original number. Click on Next. You are then faced with a page of symbols from 1 to 49, and asked to look for 10 seconds at the one that corresponds to the number you computed. After 10 seconds, that symbol appears on the screen much larger for a few seconds while an evil cackle is heard.

I ran through it several times, and it worked each time: I clicked through Next twice rapidly without doing the figuring and a symbol appeared that did not correspond in any way to the symbol I had fixed my eyes on. (I also checked to make sure I wasn't absently using the mouse as a pointer.) It's very neat, and I have no idea how it works.

Current Mood: amused
Tags: , , , ,
Purr at me

Comments

[User Picture]
From:[info]skuf
Date:dayordJanuary 2008 07:04 pm (UTC)
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Basically whichever number you start out with, you'll always end up with a number dividable by 9 - check out the numbers: 9, 18, etc. always share the same symbol, even if the symbol changes. Another version of this went around a while ago (and I'm sure math teachers have been presenting un-digital versions of this to their students since forever :o)
[User Picture]
From:[info]yonmei
Date:dayordJanuary 2008 07:11 pm (UTC)
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Oh, clever!

I didn't notice it because it was a different symbol almost every time - I hadn't thought of looking to see which symbols repeated.
[User Picture]
From:[info]solo
Date:dayordJanuary 2008 07:48 pm (UTC)
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[info]skuf already explained it - let me add that there's a clever book which has the explanation in it, too, along with many other fascinating goodies:
Why do buses come in threes? The hidden mathematics of everyday life.
I got it a couple of months ago and really enjoyed it.
[User Picture]
From:[info]yonmei
Date:dayordJune 2008 02:29 pm (UTC)
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I only spotted this in the spare room as I was packing to go! :-(

By the way, did you by any chance find my Bavarian army knife? *hopeful*
[User Picture]
From:[info]solo
Date:dayordJune 2008 08:39 pm (UTC)

Trying again, also eta...

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Yes, I did! What do you want me to do with it? I'm actually going to be in Edinburgh on Wednesday... have a meeting in the new towan 1300-1530 but I could come in a bit earlier and maybe we can meet for coffee and I'll bring it then?

I could bring the book, too.
[User Picture]
From:[info]solo
Date:dayordJune 2008 08:40 pm (UTC)

Re: Trying again, also eta...

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'towan'... guid Scots word.

I shouldn't post after 9.
[User Picture]
From:[info]yonmei
Date:dayordJune 2009 09:06 am (UTC)

Bavarian army knife....

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Just on the offchance - do you still have this? The knife, I mean?
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