SOLUTION: "Pick any number. Add three to your number. Double your result. Add four to that number. Divide the result by 2. Finally subtract your original number. Your result is 5." 1. How

Question 1043866: "Pick any number. Add three to your number. Double your result. Add four to that number. Divide the result by 2. Finally subtract your original number. Your result is 5."
1. How does this work with any starting number?
2. Can you create your own "magic" equation?

Answer by ikleyn(52802) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
"Pick any number. Add three to your number. Double your result. Add four to that number.
Divide the result by 2. Finally subtract your original number. Your result is 5."
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"Pick any number.                                            x

Add three to your number.                                    x + 3

Double your result.                                          2x + 6

Add four to that number.                                     2x + 10

Divide the result by 2.                                      x + 5

Finally subtract your original number. Your result is 5."    (x + 5) - x = 5.

The age of this joking problem is three thousand years (at least).

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Comment from student: How does this work with any starting number?
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My response: My written text shows you that it works with any given number "x".

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