When you're watching the NBA playoffs or MLB games, here's a little fun game you can play using the two digit numbers on the players' jerseys.
Take any two digit number. For example, 13, the number worn by Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns, 2005 MVP. (He's Canadian, by the way. Just thought I'd mention that.) Add the digits that make up the number together. 1+3 = 4. Then subtract that number from the original number. 13-4 = 9. Then add the digits of the number you get. 0+9 = 9. You'll get 9 every time. Fascinating.
Why does this happen? It has to do with the structure of our base ten number system, I think. Basically, it happens for the same reason that the sum of the digits of two digit multiples of 9 always add up to 9. We learned this trick when trying to memorize our 9s multiplication tables as children. (18: 1+8=9, 27: 2+7=9, ...) If you could explain why that happens, I'd be impressed.
1 comment:
Wow, your math nerdiness just keeps growing and growing...=P
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