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Welcome to skoool.co.uk Khan Academy Mathwire.com | June 2011 The Home of Speed Math and Smart Math Visual Fractions - A Fraction Tutorial AIMS Puzzle Corner: Free Math Puzzles This week’s Puzzle Corner activity is a magic trick with a mathematical, as well as a slight-of-hand, component. I first came across this trick in one of Martin Gardner’s many books on recreational mathematics. I liked it so much that I have been stumping students, friends, and family members with it ever since. In order to make this trick work, you will need to practice it by yourself until the moves (illustrated at bottom) become automatic, before trying it out on someone else. You will need at least three cups to perform this trick. Begin this trick by explaining that the goal is to get all three cups facing up after making exactly three moves. Next, invite one of the students who was watching to get all the cups facing up in three moves. What students realize at this point is that when they try the trick, the cups are set up differently than they are when you do the trick. The reason for this is quite simple once you think about it. Performing the trick: 1. 2. 3. 4.

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