Maths, magic and mystery

Chris Budd

Who likes magic?We like magic because Its mysterious Its dramatic It has an element of surprise It has glamour and excitement!This seems a bit different from a logical and rational subject like maths!

Maths is a highly creative subject full of mystery and surprisesBut an even more mysterious fact is Most people dont realise this!

Maths is the study of abstract objects and the patterns that link them togetherLinks are called theorems

They are often deeply amazing, mysterious,beautiful and very, very useful!

Some amazing theoremsabcPythagorasGregoryEuler

Unfortunately, not everyone appreciates their mystery and beautyBut most people like magic, art and storytelling!Some people are even scared of maths!

By linking maths to magic, art and storytelling we can unlock some of its mysteriesTheorems can lead to some great magic tricks!!!

Some Mathematical Magic Tricks

Clocks Cards Mind reading

A bit of mind reading 9 9 4 18 9 4 27 9 4 36 9 4 45 9 4 54 9 4 63 9 4 72 9 4 81 9 4

The Clock Trick

Mystery number is x

Total number of taps is 21 x

After 8 random taps we have 13 x

Number we get to from the top is 13 (13 x)

Rearrange 13 (13 x) = x

Theorem: y (y x) = x

1 9 2 9 3 9 4 9 5 9 6 9 7 9 8 9 9 9 10 9

Wheres the Joker?

The Cards who Know Their Names3 8 7 A Q 6 4 2 J K 10 9 5

KAACETWO2THREE3A2FOUR4FIVE533AA442255SIX6687QJ109

2 3 5 6 8 9 11 12 14 15 17 1819 20 21Row is given by round up (x/3)New position by f(x) = 7 + round up (x/3)21 Card Trick

123456789101112131415161718192021

888999101010111111121212131313141414

10101010101011111111111111111112121212121211

Some mind readingTake a 4 digit number x eg. 7563

Scramble the digits to give y eg. 3567

Subtract y from x (or vice versa) 3996

Cross out a non-zero digits and tell me the others eg. 396

Digital root of a number = sum of digitsx and y have the same digital rootTheoremThe difference z between two numbers with the same digital root, has a digital root which is always a multiple of 9

Maths in Celtic and African ArtCelticAfrican

How to draw simple Celtic KnotsStart with a grid(5 , 4) grid

(5,6)

(4,8)

How many pieces of string are needed?

Simple Celtic Knots are very similar to plaited mat sona drawingsSona African sand patterns(3,4)(2,4)

We can also produce more advanced African sona Chased Chicken designLions Stomach design

J