1) Go to the link below. After reading each window, click on the boy in the lower right corner of the picture.
2) In the last window type in your answer in the white box using the keyboard (there is NO cursor).
3) Watch the paper in the boy's hand. You will be amazed . . and no, I don't know how it's done.

http://digicc.com/fido/


how the heck does this work then? if anyone can tell me ..please do...could just be magic of course

spooky is right, but its a math trick

yes but but...HOW DOES IT KNOW...??? I was useless at maths at school...could have been chinese to me... this sort of thing fascinates me...good fun.

I'll give you a hint ..., there's only 9 solution

This post has been edited by boopme: Nov 6 2007, 10:18 AM

do you mean the number will always be 9???? boopme...how? why? when? who..(ooer not who..sorry!)

Explain....slowly..(am blonde)

Ok from one blond hippie to another
No ,not always 9 as the answer, Last hint

Whenever you take a number, mix it around it's and then subract the new number from the old,
you are always going to get a difference divisible by 9.

yeeees...*still doesnt understand* ..why is that then? And And...how does it know what number you picked then?

Gawd...should have taken Chinese instead of maths...easier methinks!

Okie dokie here's the solution
(found a better explanation)

It's actually pretty easy. When you take a number, jumble around it's digits and then subract the new number from the old, you are always going to get a difference divisible by 9. Since 9 divides the sum of the digits of all numbers divisible by 9, then nine divides the sum of the digits of the difference. When you give all but one of the digits (and knowing that the last one is not 0), the computer just takes the sum of the digits you gave it, and subtracts it from a multiple of 9 (so that the remainder is between 1 and 9). The number that you picked will always be the remainder.

When you give all but one of the digits (and knowing that the last one is not 0), the computer just takes the sum of the digits you gave it, and subtracts it from a multiple of 9 (so that the remainder is between 1 and 9).

Let's take 1234 and 4321 for example:

1234-4321=-3087

Now choose a non-zero number:
if the number was 3 then the sum of the rest would be 15, and 18-15=3
If the number was 8, then the sum of the rest would be 10 and 18-10=8
If the number was 7, then the sum of the rest would be 11 and 18-11=7

(now, the number you subract rom will not always be 18, but it will always be a multiple of 9)

The number that you picked will always be the remainder.

Why can't you pick 0?

Lets look at this example:

Choosing 0, we have the sum or the remaineder is 3+8+7=18. Therefore, the computer doesn't know if it should subtract 18 from 18, and the number you picked was 0, or subract 18 from 27 and the number you picked was 9.

Eulercrosser

This post has been edited by boopme: Nov 7 2007, 11:12 AM

Gotcha......*lies down in a dark corner"

I appreciate your help and patience boopme...(still have absolutely no idea what you are on abaht..but I am going to have another go with my brain in the right way round this time...that is if I can catch it... Thankyou xxxxxx

Good grief!! you're right dollyeyes, it is weirf and fun, but what amazes me is you boopme!! Who would have thunk it, we have a caculator among us!! Darn you're good. Like dollyeyes, math wasn't always one of my stonger subjest in school. Obviously you didn't have a problem with it!!!

It's only simple math.

There are many examples out on the WWW of a similar nature.

When in doubt - 9 is the factor. Sometimes 7 tho'...