\u201cYou lose again, Lenny\u201c sneered Snipe after his loaded dice turned up another seven on the green felt table mat.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow you owe me a hundred dollars. Hand it over now,\u201d demanded Snipe, hand extended.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell. . . seems you have had an extraordinary streak of luck, Snipe,\u201d replied Lenny, raising an eyebrow while handing over a Franklin note.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo show I\u2019m not a bad loser, how about a bet for two hundred bucks this time?\u201d suggested Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of a bet,\u201d said Snipe suspiciously, eyes narrowing while he pocketed the Franklin note.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, it goes like this, Snipe. You think of two numbers. Then I ask you to manipulate the numbers some times, after which I tell you the result,\u201d explained Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mean, I don\u2019t tell you what the numbers I think of and manipulate are? said an incredulous Snipe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d said Lenny with a mischievous smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re on, and you\u2019ll lose again,\u201d laughed Snipe.<\/p>\n
Lenny pulled out a pocket calculator, a yellow notepad and a pen from his backpack and placed them on the table in front of a surprised Snipe.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere you go, Snipe. You just think of two numbers and get ready to write down all the results, so we can check them later, if necessary,\u201d explained Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve already got two numbers in mind,\u201d said Snipe, eyeing some cars passing by.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen add them together,\u201d instructed Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo problem, \u201c replied Snipe, noting the sum with his pad well hidden from view.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow add one of the two numbers you first thought of to the sum you just got,\u201d continued Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cDone, no sweat.\u201d Snipe was already anticipating the two hundred dollars he would soon win.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the new sum, add the last sum.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the new sum, add the last sum,\u201d said Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cOk, how long will this continue,\u201d complained Snipe with a bored expression on his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the new sum, add the last sum,\u201d said Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sound like a parrot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the new sum, add the last sum,\u201d said Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on. I don\u2019t have all day.\u201d Snipe was getting irritated.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the new sum, add the last sum,\u201d said Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cOk, the last time or the bet\u2019s off,\u201d threatened Snipe.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow divide the last sum you have by the previous sum,\u201d said Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood enough,\u201d said Snipe.<\/p>\n
\u201cMultiply the result by ten and strike out the fractional part,\u201d said Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cOk, and now what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I\u2019ll tell you what the number you have left is, and if I am right, you lose the bet,\u201d said Lenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo way you can know it. Go ahead, tell me the wrong number.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number you have left is sixteen. Show me your notepad results,\u201d demanded Lenny.<\/p>\n
A surprised Snipe handed over the notepad.<\/p>\n
\u201cRats, I don\u2019t believe it!! Tell me how it works.\u201d said Snipe mouth agape.<\/p>\n
\u201cPay up the two hundred dollars and I\u2019ll give you some advice,\u201d said Lenny.<\/p>\n
Snipe handed over the two hundred dollars. \u201cSo what\u2019s your advice,\u201d said Snipe eagerly awaiting the advice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t tell you how it works, because you\u2019ll use it to make money from people ignorant of mathematics. My advice is to get some education and learn a useful profession,\u201d said Lenny.<\/p>\n
Snipe threw down the pen and stomped off in disgust.<\/p>\n
Can you work out how Lenny knew the final result?<\/em><\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>