Math Is Fun Forum

math9maniac

Member

From: Tema

Registered: 2015-03-30

Posts: 443

Mathemagic

Pick any 4-digit number at all (should not have the same digit throughout). Rearrange the digits to form as many 4-digit numbers as possible. From the range of numbers (including the one you first picked), subtract the least from the greatest. If the difference is a 2-digit number add the digits together.

The idea behind this is no matter what your answer will always be 9. Yes try it now.

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Only a friend tells you your face is dirty.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,621

Re: Mathemagic

hi math9maniac

Bob

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

Olinguito

Member

Registered: 2014-08-12

Posts: 649

Re: Mathemagic

The most general theorem of all:

(NB: If N contains one or more 0, we allow Nʹ to start with a 0. For example, if N = 1024, Nʹ can be 0241; in this case N is a 4-digit number whereas Nʹ = 241 is a 3-digit one.)

Proof of the most general theorem of all:

We know that a positive integer is congruent modulo 9 to the sum of its digits. For example, 12345 ≡ 1+2+3+4+5 = 15 ≡ 1+5 = 6 (mod 9) (i.e. it leaves a remainder 6 when divided by 9).

This is based on the fact that

is divisible by 9 for all non-negative integers k (these are numbers of the form 0, 9, 99, 999, 9999, etc). Therefore if N is a k-digit number with digits

, we have

[list=*]
[*]

for all

[/*]
[/list]

and adding up the i gives

So N is congruent to the sum of its digits mod 9. Similarly Nʹ is congruent to the sum of its digits mod 9. But the sum of the digits of N and the sum of the digits of Nʹ are the same since the digits of one are those of the other rearranged. This means

[list=*]
[*]

[/*]
[/list]

and so their difference is divisible by 9. QED.

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Bassaricyon neblina

math9maniac

Member

From: Tema

Registered: 2015-03-30

Posts: 443

Re: Mathemagic

Many thanks bob and Olinguito. I seem to understand bob more. Expecting to hear from you again later.

:-)   ;-)

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Only a friend tells you your face is dirty.

mathaholic

Member

From: Earth

Registered: 2012-11-29

Posts: 3,251

Re: Mathemagic

Pick any 4-digit number at all (should not have the same digit throughout). Rearrange the digits to form as many 4-digit numbers as possible. From the range of numbers (including the one you first picked), subtract the least from the greatest. If the difference is a 2-digit number add the digits together.

The idea behind this is no matter what your answer will always be 9. Yes try it now.

Okay.

1234

1234 1243 1324 1342 1423 1432
2134 2143 2314 2341 2413 2431
3124 3142 3214 3241 3412 3421
4123 4132 4213 4231 4312 4321

4321
1234
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3087

Well, it's 4 digits but I'll go add it... 3+0+8+7 = 18 (1 + 8) = 9.

Worth that 10 minute typing. BTW, the name of the topic reminds me of a book I borrow in the library at my school.

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Mathaholic | 10th most active poster | Maker of the 350,000th post | Person | rrr's classmate