most recent 30 from http://mathoverflow.net 2013-05-23T01:59:15Z http://mathoverflow.net/feeds/user/2862 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9754/magic-trick-based-on-deep-mathematics/9965#9965 Christian Blatter 2009-12-28T16:43:45Z 2009-12-28T16:43:45Z

<p>Magician: "Here is a deck of 27 cards. Select one, memorize it, put it back and shuffle at libitum. Now name a number between 1 and 27 inclusive (=: N)." Then the magician deals the cards face up into three heaps. You have to tell him in which heap the selected card lies, and he quickly ramasses the three heaps. This is done three times, then he hands you the deck, and you have to count N cards from its back. The N'th card is flipped over, and it turns out to be the card you have originally selected. </p>