Mind Reader

[Eddie]

http://www.unusualmuseums.org/mindreader/

[Trey314159]

Is it in bad taste to point out how it works?

[Sid]

Is it in bad taste to point out how it works?

please do the honors...

[johnnyabc]

The symbols are all the same for the 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81.
Only 8 possibilities would ever come up.

If you were to pick any number from 20-29 it would be 18
If you were to pick any number from 30-39 it would be 27
If you were to pick any number from 40-49 it would be 36
If you were to pick any number from 50-59 it would be 45
If you were to pick any number from 60-69 it would be 54
If you were to pick any number from 70-79 it would be 63
If you were to pick any number from 80-89 it would be 72
If you were to pick any number from 90-99 it would be 81

[Trey314159]

The symbols are all the same for the 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81.
Only 8 possibilities would ever come up.

If you were to pick any number from 20-29 it would be 18
If you were to pick any number from 30-39 it would be 27
If you were to pick any number from 40-49 it would be 36
If you were to pick any number from 50-59 it would be 45
If you were to pick any number from 60-69 it would be 54
If you were to pick any number from 70-79 it would be 63
If you were to pick any number from 80-89 it would be 72
If you were to pick any number from 90-99 it would be 81

We have a winner! That's how it works.. Thanks johnnyabc!

I asked before I said anything because, on the on hand, I dislike "math tricks" that work out, if you can do the algebra, to a complicated way to get back the number you put into them; but on the other hand, I don't want to be a spoil sport for those who don't care how it works and enjoy it for the Rube Goldbergness of it all. This one was at least pretty clever.

[Eddie]

I dont understand that still leaves a 1 in 8 chance of it getting the right symbol Yet it appears to get it correct around 90 % of the time.

[Trey314159]

I dont understand that still leaves a 1 in 8 chance of it getting the right symbol Yet it appears to get it correct around 90 % of the time.

If you check the table carefully, 18, 27, 36, and the rest all have the same symbol.. if you did your math right, there is only one symbol that is correct.