Miscellaneous

133 entries in Numbers / Miscellaneous
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Le Petit Chasseur automaton with a bow shoots arrow on a cardboard and hits selected number
 		1784
La Magie Blanche Dévoilée
42
How, on delivering a Ring to a Number of Persons, to find which Person has got it, which Hand it is on, which Finger, and which Joint. people seated in a row and numbered, calculation is made and result gives answers
 		1784
Breslaw's Last Legacy
40
Henri Decremps Démonstration de mémoire avec un livre de 100 pages de chiffres Memory demonstration with a 100-page book of numbers
 		1786
Testament de Jérôme Sharp
319
Adolphe "Magicus" Blind The Demon Digits three cards with numbers arrange themselves in requested order
Also published here 1911
Later Magic
581
Adolphe "Magicus" Blind The Demon Digits three cards with numbers arrange themselves in requested order
Also published here 1911
Magical Titbits
29
Edward Bagshawe A Tissue Paper Mystery number cards, one chosen, LIAR is seen on tissue paper, when turned over and AR removed, it reads 17 which is the chosen number
 		1924
Exclusive Problems in Magic
47
Oswald Rae The Elusive Digits four cards with numbers from one to four in a glass frame, arrange in wanted order, second set of cards in card stand
 		1926
Between Ourselves
34
Tom Sellers Double Date dates of two borrowed coins divined, dates written into grid on a paper by spectator
Variations 1931
Magical Pleasantries
8
Hans Zimmermann Der Zahlenturm discs with numbers from 1 to 10 on a pile, spectator cuts and number can be divined
 		Sep. 1941
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 3 No. 9)
2
The Elevens Stunt Mathematical stunt, place three cards on table, numbers can always be divided by eleven
 		1949
Tricks and Stunts With Playing Cards
20
Telling a Chosen Card Divine value of playing card via mathematical method (multiply by three, add six, divide by three)
 		1949
Tricks and Stunts With Playing Cards
25
Harry Blackstone Cardology --or, A Card Trick Without Cards No. 118, magician divines thought-of card after spectator follows mathematical procedure and announces the result
 		1950
Scarne on Card Tricks
229
Jack Yates Object in Mind divination of one of three objects, mathematical principle
 		1954
Minds in Close-Up
25
Ronald B. Edwards Think of a Number business cards with number written on them, chosen number is spelled and card with same number is found
 		June 1954
The New Phoenix (Issue 309)
34
Lloyd E. Jones The Cyclic Number A packet containing six cards forming the number 142857, when multiplied by any number from 2 to 6, gives a result which the cards themselves reveal
 		1956
Mathematics, Magic And Mystery
9
Royal Vale Heath Heath's Bill Trick Serial number divination, very mathematical
 		1956
Mathematics, Magic And Mystery
52
The Three Heaps start with three heaps of matches, magician can (without looking) form a single pile of matches equal a number called out by spectator
VariationsAlso published here 1956
Mathematics, Magic And Mystery
55
Royal Vale Heath Heath's "Tappit" Tapping the Hours type of trick, but with colored tiles and numbers printed on them
Inspired by 1956
Mathematics, Magic And Mystery
102
Will Blyth Blyth's Domino Box Dominoes in a box shifted, the spots on the dominoes will predict how many have been shifted
Variations 1956
Mathematics, Magic And Mystery
110
Martin Gardner The Mysteries of Seven Explains why the number nine has such weird properties
 		1956
Mathematics, Magic And Mystery
168
L. Vosburgh Lyons Mentrick six-digit number that is not divisible by seven is named and used to fill out a grid with a blank diagonal, numbers must be filled in to make the rows divisible by seven
 		Apr. 1956
Ibidem (Issue 5)
12
L. Vosburgh Lyons Heavenly Sevens Ace through Seven, spectator removes any card and from the rest places two in a row, performer completes the row with the remaining four digits so that the resulting six-digit number is always divisible by seven
 		Sep. 1956
Ibidem (Issue 7)
8
Bill Elliott TNUOC skill of writing numbers from one to nine upside-down while reciting them in reverse order
 		Sep. 1956
Ibidem (Issue 7)
16
Mel Stover OGNIB "Bingo in reverse", number grid, calculation with age, year of birth comes out
 		Sep. 1956
Ibidem (Issue 7)
17
Max Katz Favorite Number calculation in which favorite number appears nine times at the end
 		1957
26 Originals
23
Martin Gardner Paradox Papers paper with numbers in a 4x4 grid is folded into small square, edges cut off, then all even numbers are one way and the odds another, application with cards, Steve Shimm suggestion, tapestry handling, see also p. 521 for Gene Nielson handling, H. E. Dudeney
Inspired by
  • Henry Dudeny puzzle from "Modern Puzzles" (1926)
Related toVariationsAlso published here 		July 1971
The Pallbearers Review Vol. 5-8 (Vol. 6 No. 9)
429
Paul Swinford Time on my Hands twelve chips with numbers on one side and letters on other side, five color coded control cards (CCCC), clock layout, a chosen number is eventually revealed
 		1971
Lecture Notes
3
The Three Piles Divination start with three heaps of matches, magician can (without looking) form a single pile of matches equal a number called out by spectator
Also published here 1971
At the Drop of a Match
24
Rolf Andra Mental-Test set of number cards is shuffled and spectator numbers them correctly on the back, set of ESP cards and spectator locates his chosen symbol
Related to 1971
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 32 No. 5)
90
Sam Lloyd The Missing Digit spectator form two numbers from all ten digits, adds them and removes one digit from answer which the performer divines, from a Dover collection edited by Martin Gardner
 		Dec. 1972
The Pallbearers Review Vol. 5-8 (Vol. 8 No. 2)
578
Jerry Mentzer Numbers Game several numbers are written next to letters of the alphabet, one letter is selected with ABC cards and performer divines number
 		1972
Magick (Issue 65)
323
Age And Pocket Change Number Gag No. 520, calculation with age an pocket change, performer divines both from the result
 		1972
Jacob Daley's Notebooks
146
Gaston "Gasbor" Borgeaud Polygon-Magie mathematical foundation for Brumoli's "Hexa-Magie"
 		1973
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 34 No. 2)
31
Robert E. Neale, Karl Fulves In the Mirror spectator writes number on mirror, performer on another mirror, numbers transpose in mirror writing, variation with words, see also p. 786 for comment by Reinhard Müller
 		Feb. 1974
The Pallbearers Review Vol. 9-10 (Vol. 9 No. 4)
712
Karl Fulves Mathemagic intro
 		June 1974
The Pallbearers Review Vol. 9-10 (Vol. 9 No. 8)
750
L. Vosburgh Lyons Add and Subtract number thing with desk calculator
 		June 1974
The Pallbearers Review Vol. 9-10 (Vol. 9 No. 8)
750
Stewart Judah Lightning Strikes Thrice three numbers and totals arrived at with blank cards, they are all identical, see p. 1053 for note by Johnnie Murray
Related toVariationsAlso published here Autumn 1974
The Pallbearers Review Vol. 9-10 (Vol. 9 No. 10th Folio (Part One))
798
Arthur Hill Smart As Hell numbers written on slip, some chosen, person with higher total wins, amazingly the totals are equal
 		June 1975
The Pallbearers Review Vol. 9-10 (Vol. 10 No. 8)
969
Karl Fulves Math Trix intro
 		Oct. 1975
The Pallbearers Review Vol. 9-10 (Vol. 10 No. 12)
1057
Ken De Courcy A Timely Legend number demonstration with drawn clock layout
 		1975
Son of Pentertain
3
Jack Bridwell Flash-Mental cards with simple math problems, selected one is divined
 		1976
Magick (Issue 148)
738
Upside Down Calculation addition that can be read upside down
 		1976
Mistress of Pentertain
16
Gerry Findler Practice Makes Perfect calculation which ends with thirteen duplicate digits of a chosen one
 		1976
Mistress of Pentertain
17
Reversible Addition column of two-digit numbers added, same amount when each number has reversed digits
 		1976
Mistress of Pentertain
38
Harry Lorayne Number Magic
1977
The Magic Book
208
Harry Lorayne The Missing Digit spectator circles a digit and calls out the others, circled digit divined
 		1977
The Magic Book
211
Harry Lorayne Your Lucky Number after some calculation, all digits of the result are the lucky digit
 		1977
The Magic Book
217
Karl Fulves Numerology performer and spectator choose a digit from serial of a bill, after some calculation the spectator has a two-digit number with both those digits
 		1977
The Magic Book
36
Karl Fulves Change in Mind "as many pennies as you have, plus three more, plus enough left over...", trick that fooled Einstein with coins
Related toVariations 1977
The Magic Book
83
Tan Hock Chuan The Favorite Number Improved Number stunt, spectator name any digit, you multiply two digits to produce string of repeated named digits
 		1977
The Magic of Tan Hock Chuan
20
John Chia I have your Number Matches in spectator's hand is the same number as the magician's matches
 		1977
The Magic of Tan Hock Chuan
35
Larry Becker The New Math Miracle six cards with numbers on both sides in envelopes, shuffled and turned over by spectator, total is divined
Inspired by 1978
World of Super Mentalism
29
Dr. Dan J. Alessini SH-H-! 25 number card with numbers from one to five, spectator divines if numbers match or not
 		1979
Magick (Issue 233)
1161
Sam Schwartz Hypno-Math No. 8, spectator cannot add two numbers correctly, upside-down numbers
 		1979
Self-Working Mental Magic
10
Alex Elmsley Liar's Matrix 0-1-combinations, 1 bit changed in any line gives a unique line
 		1980
Curioser
29
Howard A. Adams Numeru 52 number cards, one is removed without looking and performer removes two cards, cards are placed face-up where spectator cuts, deck is shown in numerical order and cards placed at correct spot, when both numbers are added the result equals the selection
 		1980
OICUFESP (Issue 4 - esp card & mental miracles RETURN)
7
Steve Dusheck Astro Perception Calendar spectator's birth month used to count to a ESP symbol on a grid, it's predicted
Also published here 1980 ca.
Lecture No. 1
18
Tieneblas D.A.T.E.S. spectators call out numbers and performer apparently memorizes them all, almost identical with Hutchison routine
Related toAlso published here
  • Edward R. Hutchison's "Giant Memory Routine" in "Psychological Mysteries", 1977. P. 22.
 Mar. 1982
Magick (Issue 304)
1518
Computer Dating No. 2, two persons write a digit, calculation done with one digit leads to two-digit number composed of both original numbers
 		1983
Self-Working Number Magic
2
Resistible Rithmetic No. 3, spectator writes number with writing surface held away and gets it wrong (18 instead of 81), mirror writing
 		1983
Self-Working Number Magic
3
Step Right Up No. 4, sixteen slips, half with "i owe you $1", half with "you owe me $1", spectator writes down 1, 2, 4, 8 in any order with plus or minus between and counts to a slip and loses
 		1983
Self-Working Number Magic
5
Stewart Judah Lightning Strikes Thrice No. 10, three numbers and totals arrived at with blank cards, they are all identical
Also published here 1983
Self-Working Number Magic
12
Mah Jongg Cubes colored squares with numbers on other side, number selected and spelled with mixed squares
 		1985
The Fred Braue Notebooks (Issue 1)
20
Martin Gardner Paradox Papers No. 9, paper with numbers in a 4x4 grid is folded into small square, edges cut off, then all even numbers are one way and the odds another, application with card values on paper or card layout (chosen card turned over is only odd-colored at the end)
Also published here 1985
Self-Working Paper Magic
18
Karl Fulves Mind Scan No. 57, two cardboards, one has triangle and circle cut out, other has some numbers, spectator puts first one on top of second one, adds numbers that are visible and announces total, performer knows numbers and which is in circle
Related to 1985
Self-Working Paper Magic
100
Stewart Judah Dreimal die Gleiche numbers on papers, pairs made, the add up to same total
 		July 1985
Intermagic (Vol. 11 No. 3 & 4)
170
Martin Gardner The Binary System historical information and punch card sorting applications
  • sorting 32 punch cards in numerical order
  • divining selected number
  • solving logic problem
VariationsAlso published here
  • Scientific American, Dec. 1960
 1986
The Cyberdeck
1
Rudolf Braunmüller Der zaubernde Mathematiker intro
 		Oct. 1987
Intermagic (Vol. 13 No. 1)
8
R. C. Buff Miscellaneous using four ropes to divine a number
 		1987
The Best of Buff
30
Stewart Judah Der Blitz schlägt dreimal ein three numbers and totals arrived at with blank cards, they are all identical
Also published here 1987
Magische Blätter (Vol. 1 No. 10)
6
Terri Rogers Grab Gamble coins in bowl, spectator reaches in and takes a handful of coins and pockets them in three-phase procedure, number of remaining coins divined
Also published here 1988
More Secrets
61
Terri Rogers Das Greifzu-Spiel coins in bowl, spectator reaches in and takes a handful of coins and pockets them in three-phase procedure, number of remaining coins divined
Also published here July 1989
Intermagic (Vol. 14 No. 4 & 5)
173
Karl Fulves Unlisted Numbers four discs with four numbers on each, spectator choses one disc, all put in pocket, performer finds right one without looking
 		1993
Easy-to-Do Magic Tricks for Children
28
Steve Dusheck Astro Perception Calendar spectator's birth month used to count to a ESP symbol on a grid, it's predicted
Also published here 1993
Dusheck's Mental Magic
31
Karl Fulves Matrix Notes
1994
Crooked Tales
74
Mel Bennett S.P.A.T. letters associated with numbers, credit information
Inspired by
  • Lee Sallows idea in Word Ways, Feb. 1990
 1994
Verbatim (Issue 10)
133
Karl Fulves Jumble number up to twelve chosen, letters that spell the number taken from letter deck, second number as well, performer looks at all letters shuffled together and announced both numbers, with two more uses of Sallows Square
  • Crosswords
  • Si Minus (card counting analog)
 		1994
Verbatim (Issue 10)
137
Peter Duffie A Shade Inexplicable cards numbered in red from One to Eight on one side and in black on the other side, total of some numbers divined with remaining cards
Inspired by 1994
Wonderful Routines of Magic — The Second Addendum
78
Karl Fulves Down-Under Age Cards reporting a misplaced idea in which number cards are down-under dealt
 		1995
The Fine Print (Issue 1)
4
Karl Fulves Comment on Contest Influence five cards, one One and four Zeros, put in any order and the resulting number is paid out
Inspired by
  • "Contest Influence" (Robert Ecklund, Ed Mellon's "Mental Wise")
Variations 		1995
The Fine Print (Issue 2)
31
Karl Fulves Jumbled Numbers No. 33, seven numbers on slips of paper are threaded onto safety pin in random order, performer takes it behind his back and tears off the numbers in order of spectator's phone number
 		1995
Easy Magic
46
George St. James Deep Sea Digits apparently remembering a very long number formed by the audience
Related toVariations 1995
Syzygy (Vol. 1 No. 10)
42
Alex Elmsley Tailpiece revealing a number typed into the calculator of a windows computer
 		1996
Mouse Magic
51
Mel Bennett Millennium Minus 5 properties of the number 1995
 		1996
The Fine Print (Issue 4)
67
Maurice Kraitchik Age Cards Automaton
Also published here
  • Mathematical Recreations
 1996
The Fine Print (Issue 4)
68
Max Abrams Contest Influence Solutions five cards, one One and four Zeros, put in any order and the resulting number is paid out, two methods, velleda
Inspired byRelated to 1996
The Fine Print (Issue 4)
90
Martin Gardner, Dr. Irving Joshua Matrix A New Year Curiosity
  • "Dot Com - Tricks and stunts with numbers"
apparently random calculation with a 3x3 matrix, 1997 arrived at
VariationsAlso published here
  • REC Newsletter (Michael Ecker)
 1997
The Fine Print (Issue 5)
127
Sam Schwartz A Very Good Year
  • "Dot Com - Tricks and stunts with numbers"
apparently random calculation with a 3x3 matrix, 1998 arrived at
Inspired by 1997
The Fine Print (Issue 6)
163
Karl Fulves Pick A No. "Short Takes"
way to get a small number when required
 		1998
The Fine Print (Issue 8)
231
Karl Fulves Your Better Half
  • "Dot Com - Tricks and stunts with numbers"
age revealed after some number calculation
 		1998
The Fine Print (Issue 8)
250
Terri Rogers Chess Mate Magician uses two transparent chess clock faces to predict sum of two randomly chosen numbers, and also the choices end on two matching chess pieces. Based on the Gemini Factor mathematical principle.
Related to 1998
Top Secrets
41
Terri Rogers Mind Game Magician predicts correctly that spectators will randomly end up choosing two comedians who work together. Based on the Gemini Factor mathematical principle.
Related to 1998
Top Secrets
46
Max Maven Addendum Additional applications of The Gemini Factor
Related to 1998
Top Secrets
127
Karl Fulves Reversing Numbers intro on reversing number by arithmetic procedures
 		1998
Calculator Tricks
60
Karl Fulves Down Side Up on upside down numbers on calculator
 		1998
Calculator Tricks
104
Martin Gardner Calculated Swindle variation of the calculator trick with 12345679
 		1998
Calculator Tricks
110
Lee Earle Digital Kicker apparently remembering a very long number formed by the audience, adding numbers up as kicker, almost identical to Hutchison routine
Inspired byRelated to
  • D.A.T.E.S. (Tieneblas, 1982)
  • Edward R. Hutchison's "Giant Memory Routine" in "Psychological Mysteries", 1977. P. 22.
 2000
Syzygy (Vol. 5 No. 5)
369
Karl Fulves Totalizer "An impromptu trick with four dice"
four dice put on table with One-Two-Five-Six sides up, spectator follows some instructions or not while back is turned and covers dice, performer arranges dice so that two left dice have same total as right dice
 		2001
Latter Day Secrets (Issue 5)
128
David Berglas Cryptomania board to transcribe letters into numbers, names become numbers etc
 		2002
The Mind & Magic of David Berglas
455
Mel Stover Nine Nine Nine gag routine with puns about the number nine
 		Jan. 2003
Genii (Vol. 66 No. 1)
27
Karl Fulves Binary Basics explaining binary numbers
 		2005
Combo II
5
Karl Fulves Alpha Numeric further notes on Combo system and number systems
  • The Octal System
  • The Hexadecimal System
  • Binary To Hex
 		2005
Combo II
112
Karl Fulves Odd Bits self-similar sequence oddity
 		2005
Combo II
118
Mel Bennett Easy As Ab⁄c calculator option for simplifying task to spectators in division tricks
Inspired by
  • Number Challenge (Royal Vale Heath, 1957)
  • "Zangbar Zackelback" (Wallace Lee, Genii, June 1958, p. 364)
  • "Zackelback's Problem" (John F. Pooley, Genii, Oct. 1958, p. 46)
Related to 		2006
Prolix (Issue 2)
109
Karl Fulves Digit Daze memorizing digits
 		2007
Word Play
49
Robert E. Neale I Bless Bile Cards with numbers on them used to spell various words when turned upside down, then flipped over to reveal a skull picture
Inspired by 2008
This Is Not a Book
87
Garrett Thomas, Alex Linian, Patrick G. Redford Careless Combination Spectator forgets combination number to a padlock they set themselves. They will later remember the combination one letter at a time
 		2008
Glemme
28
Michael Weber Dürer Had a Word For It grid with numbers, all writing vanishes when heated except an outline of spectator's lucky numbers, frixion pen
Also published here Oct. 2009
Genii (Vol. 72 No. 10 (The Jinx - 75 Years))
22
Michael Weber Dürer Had a Word For It grid with numbers, all writing vanishes when heated except an outline of spectator's lucky numbers, frixion pen
Also published here 2009
The Jinx — 75 Years
22
Mel Bennett Nothing Test numbers chosen and put in calculator, divided by numbers chosen from deck of cards, remainder given out in money, it is zero three times
 		2010
Prolix (Issue 7)
435
Michael Weber Indivisible Ink grid with numbers, all writing vanishes when heated except an outline of spectator's lucky numbers, frixion pen
Also published here 2010
Laustin Translation
4
Karl Fulves Perpetual "In Order"
four cardboard pieces with numbers on both sides are in envelopes, with his back turned the performer orders them in numerical order
Variations 2011
Prolix (Issue 9)
571
Karl Fulves Perpetual Notions "Notes on 'Perpetual'"
four cardboard pieces with numbers on both sides are in envelopes, with his back turned the performer orders them in numerical order
  • Tight Circle
  • In Color
  • Picking Numbers
  • Perceptual
  • Using Windows
  • Perpetual Numbers
Inspired by 2011
Xtra Credit (Issue 9)
57
Michael Weber, Tim Trono Coin Shop Mentalism values of coins listed on coin shop business cards, spectators take money according to some of the listed coin values from which the performer can divine previously chosen coins
 		Dec. 2012
Real Secrets (Vol. 1 No. 9)
1
Michael Weber, Tim Trono Sum One's Phone Number numbers generated from various bills and receipts are summed up and the total is the spectator's phone number
Related to Dec. 2013
Real Secrets (Vol. 2 No. 21)
1
Michael Weber, Tim Trono Sum One's Phone Number Revised numbers generated from various bills and receipts are summed up and the total is the spectator's phone number
(PDF bonus sheet)
Related to Dec. 2013
Real Secrets (Vol. 2 No. 21)
1
G Amnesia (失忆症) You make spectator forget a number you wrote down: you write four numbers, spectator only remembers three
 		2014
Inspiration
51
Michael Weber, Tim Trono Perfect Match two chosen numbers are transformed via information on a card and they turn out to match
(Real Secrets Bonus sheet)
 		Nov. 2014
Real Secrets (Vol. 3 No. 32)
2
Karl Fulves Cell Shock spectator writes his cell phone number on ten pieces of paper and mixes the digits up, performer dials number and first gets a funny acquaintance, then the spectator's phone itself rings
 		2015
The Lowdown (Issue 1)
4
Karl Fulves Note 1 notes on Target Practice
Related to 2015
Errata (Issue 1)
11
Karl Fulves Note 7 open questions for Diana Games principle
Related to 2015
Errata (Issue 1)
11
Karl Fulves The 7-11 Game three boxes with two dice each, box shaken and one die from each box eventually chosen, top numbers added and sum compared to list of target numbers
  • Shake 'Em Up
  • 7-11 Strategy
  • The Two-Number Game
Inspired byRelated to 2015
Errata (Issue 1)
18
Roberto Giobbi Mathematical Curiosities (2^2)^2 = 2^(2^2), presentational idea
 		2016
Hidden Agenda (Issue Jan 8)
11
Roberto Giobbi Fibonacci Numbers about hidden structures and curiosities
 		2016
Hidden Agenda (Issue Feb 5)
40
Roberto Giobbi Name a Number other ways to arrive at a number instead of just asking for one
 		2016
Hidden Agenda (Issue Feb 19)
54
Roberto Giobbi How to Lie With Statistics
2016
Hidden Agenda (Issue Mar 28)
92
Roberto Giobbi 52! = 8.07 x 1067 as presentational hook
 		2016
Hidden Agenda (Issue July 20)
208
Roberto Giobbi Formula X on mathematics & magic
 		2016
Hidden Agenda (Issue Nov 26)
339
殷欣 (Sion) 暧昧 (Ambiguous) Magician correctly divines spectator's birthdate and astrological sign, propless
Related to 2017
暧昧
12
Bob Farmer The Trinary Number System "Don't be afraid of the math - it is your friend."
 		2017
The Bammo Tarodiction Toolbox ()
40
Bob Farmer 1 to 53 in Standard Ternary table
 		2017
The Bammo Tarodiction Toolbox ()
56
Jon Allen, Shimon Nahamani Numballoon Prediction Use numbered balloons to predict serial number on dollar bill
 		2017
The Interrobang Lecture
12
Jim Steinmeyer Welcome Change three piles of coin, some mixing, then number of coins in a pile is known by performer without looking
Inspired by 2020
Virtual Impuzzibilities
10