The “Think of a number between 1 and 10” magic trick uses some easy math. I will show you different versions of the trick, all of which work with any number between one and ten (some of them work with larger numbers as well).
This is how these tricks work:
For these math tricks, you can choose any number between 1 – 10 and need to do some calculations. The end result will always be the same, no matter which number you’ve picked.
I will show you three different versions you can do.
Let’s get started with the first trick.
My favorite trick: “Think of a number between 1 and 10”
I like this trick the most because it’s really easy to do but very impressive at the same time. You only need to do a few basic calculations, as you can see in the example down below.
Even though it’s not that hard, it might still be a good idea to use a calculator if you do the trick with your friends or for another audience, just to avoid mistakes (one mistake will ruin the trick). But don’t worry: as long as the calculations are correct, the trick does always work.
This is how you do the trick:
| How to do the trick | Example |
|---|---|
| Think of any number between 1 and 9 | Example: 4 |
| Multiply your number with 3 | 4 x 3 = 12 |
| Add 3 to your number | 12 + 3 = 15 |
| Multiply your number with 3 again | 15 x 3 = 45 |
| Add the digits together, the result will always be 9 | 4 + 5 = 9 |
It’s super easy and requires fewer steps than the other version of this trick you can find down below.
Just make sure that you only use numbers between 1 – 10 when doing this trick!
Here’s a video explaining it as well:
In case you are looking for another trick, you can check the next one.
The second trick (this one works with larger numbers as well)
This is another math trick you do, but this time, you can use larger numbers as well.
I would recommend you to keep them below 30 though because the calculations get a little too complicated otherwise.
Here’s how the trick is done:
| How to do the trick | Example |
|---|---|
| Think of a number between 1 and 10 | Example: 5 |
| Add 3 to your number | 5 + 3 = 8 |
| Double your result | 8 x 2 = 16 |
| Subtract 4 from it | 16 – 4 = 12 |
| Cut your number in half | 12 / 2 = 6 |
| Subtract your original number, your result will always be 1 | 6 – 5 = 1 |
As long as the numbers aren’t too large, you can definitely do the trick without using a calculator.
Another version you can do
This is another version that requires a few more calculations. I would recommend you to keep the selected number below 50.
If you want to perform the trick for your friends or another audience, it’s a good idea to have a calculator handy, just to make sure that it works.
Here’s how you do it:
| How to do the trick | Example |
|---|---|
| Think of a number between 1 and 10 | Example: 7 |
| Add 10 to your number | 7 + 10 = 17 |
| Subtract 3 from it | 17 – 3 = 14 |
| Add 15 to your number | 14 + 15 = 29 |
| Subtract 10 from it | 29 – 10 = 19 |
| Add 20 your number | 19 + 20 = 39 |
| Subtract 6 from it | 39 – 6 = 33 |
| Subtract your original number, the answer will always be 26 | 33 – 7 = 26 |
The reason why this trick works:
You basically add and then subtract your original number, and everything else adds up to 26. It will work every time, as long as the calculations are correct.
Are you looking for more math tricks?
Image source (header image):
https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-numbers-on-red-background-1314529/
