Author Topic: This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?  (Read 457 times)

Offline OIO

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« on: March 01, 2003, 12:43:59 PM »
http://mr-31238.mr.valuehost.co.uk/assets/Flash/psychic.swf


the mathematically incompetent like me are getting the goosebumps.

Offline Dinger

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2003, 12:52:53 PM »
Factors of nine. They change the symbols to hide this.

You have a two-digit number that is X*10 + Y
If you add the two digits and subtract them from the total, it looks like:

X*10+Y - (X + Y)
which is
X*10+Y - X - Y
which is
X*10-X
=
X*9

So it's the same as picking one number between 0 and 9,  and multiplying by nine.  Now the SWF routine puts a symbol in 0,9,18,27,36,45,54,63,72 and 81, and presents it when you're done.

Offline Sandman

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2003, 12:53:06 PM »
Look at the math:

10: 1 + 0 = 1, 10 - 1 = 9
11: 1 + 1 = 2, 11 - 2 = 9
12: 1 + 2 = 3, 12 - 3 = 9
13: 1 + 3 = 4, 13 - 4 = 9

See?
sand

Offline Siaf__csf

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2003, 01:59:28 PM »
Edit: I think I was wrong.
« Last Edit: March 01, 2003, 02:12:59 PM by Siaf__csf »

Offline Sandman

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2003, 02:09:09 PM »
That's right... and Microsoft will send you $$$ for forwarding chain letters. :)
sand

Offline Siaf__csf

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2003, 02:14:54 PM »
It fooled me because I managed to get a right answer numerous times in a row WITHOUT doing the calculation. As if it could read my thoughts even though I didn't give the program the advantage of the calculation..

It seemed like it would point out anything I pointed with the mouse.


Maybe I should play lottery today..
« Last Edit: March 01, 2003, 02:19:39 PM by Siaf__csf »

Offline mason22

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2003, 03:45:43 PM »
it wouldn't work if it didn't re-assign the symbol and number each time you pressed the crystal ball. pick a number and note it's symbol. hit refresh, note the symbol is different each time (or should be).

Offline Pongo

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2003, 07:38:13 PM »
There are only really 9 answers possible to the equation. Which is a lot less then you would think. The program makes sure that all 9 have the same icon every cycle. The other numbers are randomly or nearly randomly assigned icons to hide the pattern.
Its like a card trick where the only cards presented to you are the ones the magician knows.
Anyway. Although a different icon will appear as you guess. all the answer numbers will have the same icon every time.

Offline Mark Luper

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« Reply #8 on: March 01, 2003, 10:48:43 PM »
Regardless of the math involved it only worked the first time for me. Tried 3 more times and it gave me the wrong answer. (I rechecked my math to make sure it wasn't an error on my part)
MarkAT

Keep the shiny side up!

Offline eddiek

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« Reply #9 on: March 01, 2003, 11:11:26 PM »
Me too, Mark......it never "read my mind", not even once....

Offline Mini D

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2003, 11:23:30 PM »
Dinger got it right... if its not hitting the numbers for you, you really need to check your math again.

Also, note that every multiple of 9 has the same character.

MiniD

Offline Siaf__csf

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This is freaking me out. Anyone figure out how this works?
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2003, 03:41:59 AM »
I noticed that too, a bit after it REALLY confused me when I accidentally managed to get 4-5 right results simply by looking at an image and clicking the mirror (not doing the math.)

I was like wtf??? :) Then on 6th time my 'luck' ran out and it reported wrong.