How does this trick work (Mystical Ball)

[njmac]

www.mysticalball.com

I know it must be a math trick, but there are several different symbols there. How can the "mystical ball" know which number I picked every single time?
It doesn't matter which number I pick - it always seems to "know".

What's up with this?

 

[cslewis]

I think someone had this a few years ago. It's some kind of mathematical gobbledygook that I don't understand... in any case, my number was 27, and it said it was 9.

[EDIT] Oops, it's the same symbol. I'm so dumb sometimes.

 

[Chaszmyr]

The chart changes so that every possible number that the answer could be has the same symbol, and thats the symbol reflected in the ball when you click it.

 

[njmac]

The chart changes so that every possible number that the answer could be has the same symbol, and thats the symbol reflected in the ball when you click it.

I didn't really notice the chart changing at first. Now that I look at it again, it seems so simple. I have never been good at the magic tricks that use math.

 

[Chaszmyr]

The answer will always be a multiple of 9, by the way, so that is the domain of the "every possible number that the answer could be"

 

[clayj]

The chart changes so that every possible number that the answer could be has the same symbol, and thats the symbol reflected in the ball when you click it.

Exactly. Try a few numbers (99, 88, 77, 65, etc.) and you will see that the formula ("xy" - "x+y") ALWAYS results in a number with the same symbol... in this case, the six-pointed star.

 

[Chaszmyr]

Exactly. Try a few numbers (99, 88, 77, 65, etc.) and you will see that the formula ("xy" - "x+y") ALWAYS results in a number with the same symbol... in this case, the six-pointed star.

The chart changes, so it's not always a 6 pointed star... Hence what makes this little trick kind of deceptive.

 

[clayj]

The chart changes, so it's not always a 6 pointed star... Hence what makes this little trick kind of deceptive.

Ah... it came up three times as a 6-pointed star for me, so I guessed it was a static layout.

This is very similar to the one where you're shown five face cards, asked to pick one, and then when you click the button it's gone. The trick there is that ALL FIVE cards are gone, replaced with different cards.

Solving the trick in both cases is easy; run through the scenario several times in your head and record what you see, THEN click the button.

 

[Laser47]

Wow that site is kinda scary.

 

[PlaceofDis]

yeah i noticed the chart changed on its second try and knew something was up. but its pretty cool.

 

[mkrishnan]

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me too.

 

[naniraki]

OOps i got it....Every time when u reset the chart the symbol at the zero is the answer. what ever number u choose the answer will be the same symbol at the zero. give a try

 

[Nabooly]

hmm....all I'm getting is a crystal ball and I put in a question and it gives me answers the same as an 8 ball. :/