Think of a number, add 3, double it, now subtract 4, divide by 2, and finally subtract your original number from the result. You get 1, right? How do I know? And what are some other fun math tricks that you can use to amaze your friends? Keep on reading to find out
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Do you know any good math puzzles? If so, please send me a note and let me know what they are—I'm always looking for good puzzles to add to my collection and to share with math fans around the world. If not, today we're going to take a look at 3 fun listener-inspired math puzzles that you can use to kick-off your collection and amaze your friends at future dinner parties.
Ready to be puzzled? And then un-puzzled? Good, because that's exactly what today is all about. Enjoy!
Puzzle 1: Think of a Number Our first puzzle comes from math fan Kristina. She writes:
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"Math Dude, can you help me explain how this works??Think of a number. Add 3. Double the result. Subtract 4. Cut that number in half. Subtract the number you first thought of. Your answer is 1!"
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