Tricks
Card
Magic or Mathematics?Carr
s2
Inall of these card tricks, there are two Basic Rules that are
used fo develop the equations for calving these card tricks, The
following is the first rue:
Rule #1: In forming several piles of card from a deck of cards
the sum of the number of cards in these ples isthe same as the
number of cards inthe deck
Example #1: If three ples of cards are formed with 14,8, and
1 cards, respectively, from a standard deck of 52 cards, how
many cards are left over?
Solution: Let X = the number of cards leftover; these cards
can then be used to form a fourth pile of cards, so that by
Rade #1,
Meese X=9,
+x
2,
o, xX
Hence, there are 19 cards leftover.
Suppose that to form these three piles in Example #1, you
use the following procedure: each ace counts a a"L.” two
through ten ‘count as ther face value, jacks count as Il,”
«queens as “12,” and Kings as “18.” In forming each pile, cards are
dealt one-by-one and the cards are counted by starting the count
with the value ofthe fist card dealt and continuing unt 18 is
reached.
For the piles in Example fl, the frst card deat forthe first
pile had tobe a §
2, 5,14, 13, 12, 11, 10,9, 8,7, 6 5
14 cards
or 18 + 1 ~ 14, the first card deal for the second pile had
to bea jack (18 + 1 ~ 8), and the fist card ofthe third pile
had to be an 8 (18 +1 — 12), Ave theve numbers correct?DUIS.
eo
+
»
>
2
8
4
2
Similarly, if one knows the value of the fist card dealt for
‘ach ple and that the count stops at 18, this is enough infor-
mation to determine the number of carde in each ple WITHOUT
actully counting the numberof card
First pile: (18 + 1) ~ 5 = 14 cards,
Second pile: (18 +
~ 11 = 8 cards,
Third ple: 8 + 1) — 8 = 11 cards,
Notice that in each pile,
(value of last card + 1) —(alue of first card)=
‘number of eards in pile
‘This isthe second rule that i used to develop equations for solv
ing thee card tick,
re
Rule #2: In forming a pile of card, if Fis the value of te fist
‘ard dealt and [isthe value ofthe lst card dealt, then the
‘numberof cards Nin the pile
Newtn-F
a cr
Let's now use these two rules, along with some algebra, and
develop the fist card trick
re
Example #2: (Card Trick #1)
Suppose that you have a deck of 42 card and you form three
piles of cards, counting the value ofthe cards as dexrbed
Above. until 13 is eached foreach pile. As the cards are Beng
dealt, they are placed facedown on the pile. Develop an eqa-
tion that wil tell you the eum ofthe values of the three boom
cards if you know the number of cards leftover.
SE eeeenEe
Solution: Let 4, B, and C be the value of the bottom cards of
the fist, second, and third ples. By Rae #2,
(03 + 1) ~ A tthe number of cards inthe int ple
(03 +1) ~ Bis the numberof cards in the second pile
(03 + 2) ~ Cis the number of cards in he third pile
I there are X cards leftover, then by Rule #
O+x=e,
()09-A-B-C+X= 0,
B-(AFB+O +X =a,
(a+Beo,Wa
‘his lat equation tells ur that X, the numberof card lft
‘ver, i the same asthe sum of the values ofthe thre bottom
‘ards ofthe three piles. This means tha if someone sets up the
three piles and you do NOT see the person doing i, you ca tll
that person the sum ofthe values of the three bottom card by
‘counting out the number of cards remaining, (To convince
Youll that this card trick works, try it afew times; then try it
on your fiends!)
ee
You Try It #1. (Card Trick #2) Asin Example #2, form
three piles of cards from a deck of 42 cards, where the cards|
have the following values: each ace counts a6,” twos through
tens count as thei ace value, and each jack, queen, and king
Counts as 10." Develop an equation tha wil tel you the sum of
the values ofthe bottom cards in terms ofthe number of cards
let over
ee
You Try It #2. (Card Trick #3) You have a deck of 9
carde and you form three ples of cards (assigning values to the
‘ards as you did in You Try It #1 above) by the following
sethods
First Pile: Count out cards until you reach “10.”
Second Pile: Count out cards until you each 12."
Thicd Ple: Count out cards until you reach "14."
Develop an equation that wil tll you the value of the bottom
card of one of the ples if you are told the sum ofthe values of
the bottom carde ofthe other two piles and how many cards ae
let over.
ad
You Try It #3. (Card Trick #4) For this card trick, two
people, you and the “dealer” (each stationed in ciferent room),
Sve need. This trick uses a standard deck of 52 cards ad the
‘ards have the following valves: an ace count a1," two
through fen count as their face value a jack counts af 11," a
‘queen counts an "12," and a king counts ab "3." Again, ples of
‘ards are formed by the dealer (out of your sight in the follow-
leg mane: the top card ofthe deck is dealt face-up, its value
noted and additional carde are dealt one by one (alo face-up)
{nd counted uni “13” is reached. The proces is continued nti
thee piles are formed and the undealt cards ae retained by the
dealer. The dealer then turns al of the piles facedown and then
turns over the top card of two of the piles.
"You then return to the sene and take the remaining cards
from the dealer (al of the cards that are not inthe thee pls)
and deal outa number of cards equal #010 more than the sum
(ofthe values ofthe two exposed cards. The number of cards you
hhave leis the numerical valve ofthe unexposed top cd ofthe
tied pile, Develop an equation that explains why this rick
‘works(URI Gin Renae
pass
stl do
You Try It #4: (Card Trick #5) Suppose that you have a
standard deck of $2 cards and the card ae assigned the same
‘aloes ain You Try It 3 (Card Teck 4). Star balling api
Of card by placing card face-up. At the sme ine, claim that
you are memorizing this sequence of cards, and challenge others
fo ao memorize the sequence of cards Eventhough you are net
tetually memorizing this sequence of cards, you secretly pick oat
fel reentes one atlr cr eeby iow Your er
‘Then deal out EXACTLY ton more cards Facesop on top oF “your
ds Turn over hi fcesp pl of cards nd lac that ile
UNDER the stack of cards in your hand. Now form three piles
‘of card where each ple formed (by dealing from the top of
the dec) a follows: the vale of the top cad of the deck i
‘noted, the card is placed face-down, and addtional ards are
‘eat coe by one (ako facedown) and counted und 13" is
feached. Then turn over these thre piles and determine the sum,
Sof the values ofthe three exposed cards. Now ask someone
Tho was memorzing the sequence ofthe cards if they know
‘shat the cardi that fin poston 5 from the top ofthe remain
Ing care in your hand, The era that im postion S from the
top of the remaining card in your hand ie “your cad.” Why
des that sum, 5, tll yu the postion of "your card” inthe re-
trainer of the deck in your hand?
You Try It a5: Inthe five card tricks presented above there
ave many "varable items’: the number of card ina deck, the
‘alues asgned t the cad, the numberof ples formed, andthe
Stopping point when forming a ple of cards In each ofthe five
ard tricks, make changes in some (oral) ofthese "variable
items” and develop other card ticks and appropriate equations
for explaining the technics used in presenting the card ck.
With all of thee card tricks, now you can play two roles as
1a mapican you have some card trek to show to your finds,
tnd aya mathematician you have mathematics to verify the
techniques used in performing these ticks, COOD LUCK?
Chose, Rchard J and Ree, Clyde, Using Algebra To Solve A
Intersting Card Track Mathemats Teacher (Novenber 1973)
Davis, Eda J. and Middltoks, 6. Alba and Super Card
"Tack Matnematice Teacher To ay 3080 2628
Tes, Barry C, An Old Trick Reisted, Matherate Teacher 6
(December 1970) 60568.
LUndtrom, Peer A, Some Card Tricks: Algebra gue, UMAP
Maul 60, Cones for Mashamatice ar te Appeatons
(COMAP, 198
Ser, Baton L, Alger Cord Tricks, Matas Teacher
(Garber 07 5
Tig, Chis W., A Card Trick, Mathematics Teacher 63 (May 1970asia SSSI]
ZANSWers
Answers to “You Try It
1. Using A. B.C, and X asin Example #2, then
(4A) + 04-8) + 04- C+ X= 8
Which isthe same as the frst equation of the solution of
Card Trick #1. Hence
X=(A+B+0)
so that the sum of the values of the three bottom cards isthe
same as the number of cards remaining
2. Use A. B, and C to represent the values of the bottom cards
respectively of the fist, second, and third piles, and X to
represent the eumber of cards remaining, By Rules #1 and
#2. then
(1 ~ A) + 3 ~ B) +5 ~ C) + X= ¥,
(1 $13 415) -A-B-C+X= 9%,
WH (AF BF OH X= ®,
X=(A+B40).
Suppose that you are told the value of the bottom cards of
the frst and third piles, A and C. Then, by solving the last
equation for B,
Bex-(At+o)
Hence, to find the value ofthe bottom card ofthe second
pile, namely B, subtract the sum ofthe values ofthe bottom
‘ards ofthe other two piles from X, the number of cards re-
3. Let A, B, and Ce the values of the top cards ofthe frst,
second, and third piles respectively, so thatthe number of
cards in these piles is (4 = A), (14 ~ B), and (14 ~ C). If
X is the number of cards remaining, then
(4A) + 04-8) + 06 - C+ X= 9,
4X (A484 C)= 82,
X-(A+B+C)= 10Suppose that you know the value ofthe top cards ofthe frst,
and the second ples, s0 that you are able to determine (A+
B), Then, by solving the lst equation for C you obtain,
C=xX-Go+A +B)
Hence, the value of the unexposed top card ofthe thid ile,
C's obtained by subtracting 10 more than the sum of the
values of the two exposed cards, 10 + A + B, from the
umber of remaining cards, X. Ip other words, if you deal
out (take away) from the remaining cards, X, a number of
‘ards equal to 10 more than the sum ofthe values ofthe two
exposed cards, 10-+ A + B, the number of cards that you
hhave left, X — (10 + A + 8), is the value ofthe unexposed
top card ofthe third pil, C.
After you have determined “your car” and prior to forming
the three piles, the deck of cards consists of two pars: the
bottom part of the deck which has the 10 cards that you
counted out and the top part ofthe deck which consists of
the other 42 cards, the 2nd card from the top being "your
card." Let A, Band C represent the value ofthe bottom
Card of each ofthe piles where the carde are dealt face-up
‘when these three piles are tured over, then the A,B, and C
represent the value of the three exposed cards, which means
that $= A+ B + C. Let X represen the number of carde
left over from the top part of the deck aftr the three piles
have been formed, 50 that when accounting For all of the
cards ofthe dec,
1+X4(4- A) + 04-8) +04 - C= 82,
W+X4Q-(A4 B+ O= 82,
24+X-S= 92
xs
x
‘The lst equation tells you that X, the number of cards left
‘over from the top part ofthe deck after the three piles have
bbeen formed, Is the same as 5. the number of cards you have
to count down to in order to Find “your card.” Remember
thatthe bottom card of those X cards is "your card” #0 you
‘ust count out § ards to get toi