In a previous blog "Don't Read This," I listed three thought experiments that focused on the predictability of thinking patterns. I've received requests to offer similar mind games. So I've decided to describe one of my favorites that I have used in a variety of different ways over the years. I call it "I Can Read Your Mind." It's described below with line by line instructions on how to do and present it. First go through it step by step a few times to get the sequence right.
THEN FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW:
1. ON A PIECE OF PAPER WRITE DOWN A 3 OR 4 DIGIT NUMBER. (Make it completely random with lots of different digits, like 3452 or 6732.)
2. JUMBLE UP ALL THE DIGITS IN YOUR NUMBER TO MAKE ANOTHER NUMBER. (E.g., If you chose 4765 you could make it 6574.)
3. SUBTRACT THE SMALLER NUMBER FROM THE LARGER. (E.g., 5467-4765)
4. NOW DRAW A CIRCLE AROUND ONE OF THE DIGITS IN YOUR ANSWER. BUT DON'T PICK A 0 BECAUSE THAT'S ALREADY A CIRCLE.
5. FINALLY, JUMBLE UP ALL THE NUMBERS IN YOUR ANSWER AND WRITE THEM DOWN, EXCEPT FOR THE ONE YOU CIRCLED.
6. ADD THE NUMBERS NOT CIRCLED TOGETHER. E.G., IF YOUR NUMBERS ARE 2331 AND YOU CIRCLE THE 1 THEN (2+3+3)=8. SUBTRACT 9 FROM THE SUM AND THAT WILL BE THE NUMBER YOU CIRCLED. IN OUR EXAMPLE 9-8= 1
7. ANOTHER EXAMPLE. 2430 AND WE CIRCLE 2. THEN 4+3=7 AND 9-7=2.
8. IF THE NUMBERS ADDED IS LARGER THAN 9 YOU NEED TO SUBTRACT 9 FROM IT UNTIL THE NUMBER IS LESS THAN 9 AND THEN SUBRACT AGAIN TO GET THE NUMBER IN THE CIRCLE.
9. EXAMPLE: IF YOUR NUMBER IS 7857 AND YOU CIRCLE 5 THEN 7+8+7=22. THEN 22-9=13. THEN 1+3=4.THEN 9-4=5..
Those are the basic guidelines. The trick that you must keep to yourself is the subtracting 9 at the end to get the hidden number.
EXAMPLE: HERE IS ONE WAY YOU CAN USE THIS MIND TRICK. Tell a friend you can read their mind.
- Have them write down a 3 or 4 digit number.
- Have them Jumble them up.
- Have them subtract the smaller from the larger.
- HAVE THEM TAKE ONE OF THE NUMBERS (NOT A ZERO). ASK THEM TO CROSS IT OUT OR ERASE IT. ASK THEM TO WRITE IT DOWN ON A SMALL SLIP OF PAPER AND TURN THE PAPER OVER SO YOU CAN'T SEE IT.
- HAVE THEM MIX UP THE REMAINING NUMBERS AGAIN AND THEN TO ADD THEM UP. ASK FOR THE SUM.
- MENTALLY SUBTRACT 9 FROM SUM AND IT WILL BE THE NUMBER YOUR FRIEND WROTE DOWN ON PAPER.
REMEMBER IF THE NUMBERS ADDED IS LARGER THAN 9 YOU NEED TO SUBTRACT 9 FROM IT UNTIL THE NUMBER IS LESS THAN 9 AND THEN SUBRACT FROM 9 AGAIN TO GET THE HIDDEN NUMBER. IF YOUR NUMBER IS 7857 AND YOU CIRCLE 5 THEN 7+8+7=22. THEN 22-9=13. THEN 1+3=4. THEN 9-4=5..
Have fun!
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Michael Michalko is the author of the highly acclaimed Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques; Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius; ThinkPak: A Brainstorming Card Deck and Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work. http://creativethinking.net/WP01_Home.htm
