Friday, August 03, 2007
NO ELEPHANTS IN DENMARK TRICK.
This trick starts the same as the one above ... variations a, b and c can also be used!
(a) Ask someone to write on a piece of paper (secretly so you can’t see it) a large number (I suggest 5 digits to start with).
(b) Tell them to rearrange the digits in that number and write it above the first number if it is larger but below it if smaller.
(c) Ask them to subtract the two numbers (they can use a calculator if they wish).
(d) Ask them to repeatedly add all the digits until they get a single digit 1 to 9. e.g. If the digits are 9, 8, 5, 4 and 3, then 9+8+5+4+3=29, 2+9=11, 1+1=2.
(e) Tell them to add 4 to this number and then add the two digits together again.
(f) Ask them to use this number to get a letter of the alphabet such that A=1, B=2 etc.
(g) Now, tell them to come up with the name of any country in the world that starts with this letter (get them to write it down).
(h) Then look at the second letter in the countries name and come up with an animal (or an Australian animal) that starts with this letter (get them to write it down).
(i) Then say, "the only trouble is that there are no elephants (or echidnas) in Denmark" and watch their faces drop with amazement at your psychic powers!
How does this trick work?
This trick works for the same reason that the one above works - ‘digital roots’. The country and animal part is just a bit of window dressing ... you will see immediately how this part of the trick works after you do it a couple of times!
(a) Ask someone to write on a piece of paper (secretly so you can’t see it) a large number (I suggest 5 digits to start with).
(b) Tell them to rearrange the digits in that number and write it above the first number if it is larger but below it if smaller.
(c) Ask them to subtract the two numbers (they can use a calculator if they wish).
(d) Ask them to repeatedly add all the digits until they get a single digit 1 to 9. e.g. If the digits are 9, 8, 5, 4 and 3, then 9+8+5+4+3=29, 2+9=11, 1+1=2.
(e) Tell them to add 4 to this number and then add the two digits together again.
(f) Ask them to use this number to get a letter of the alphabet such that A=1, B=2 etc.
(g) Now, tell them to come up with the name of any country in the world that starts with this letter (get them to write it down).
(h) Then look at the second letter in the countries name and come up with an animal (or an Australian animal) that starts with this letter (get them to write it down).
(i) Then say, "the only trouble is that there are no elephants (or echidnas) in Denmark" and watch their faces drop with amazement at your psychic powers!
How does this trick work?
This trick works for the same reason that the one above works - ‘digital roots’. The country and animal part is just a bit of window dressing ... you will see immediately how this part of the trick works after you do it a couple of times!
// posted by Kritidas @ 2:43 AM 
