Magic Number Tricks

// This was something I had saved on my computer from 2010.  If youve got any young friends, you might find it a fun way to practice simple math. 

    One day Lily gathered all her friends .She told them “Any one can do magic. I found my magic talent, Watch!’

Then, she told them to each pick a number. She said “Don’t tell anyone what number you picked. Now:

- Double it
- Add 9
-Add the # you started with
-Divide by 3
-Add 4
-Subtract that answer from the # you started with.

Then she said: "…One the count of 3, I want everyone to shout out there final answer... READY 1 2 3’.’

To their, amazement everyone shouted “THREE !!’’

Here are a few other versions: 

1. Start with a number between 1 and 5.
2. Double it
3. Add 2
4. Divide that # by 2
5. Subtract that answer from the # you started with. 

Result: 1

1. Pick a number. 
2. Add 5
3. Double it
4. Subtract 4
5. Divide by 2
6. Subtract that answer from the # you started with.

Result: 3 

1. Pick a number. 
2. Add 3
3. multiply by 2
4. add 4
5. divide by 2
6. Subtract that answer from the # you started with.

Result: 5