document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=924343>Question 924343</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Hello,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I have been recently working on a question (Maths Trick) but I cannot figure out how it works. I have used x as the number and tried to figure out the algebra but I cannot solve it. The trick is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Think of a number, any positive integer <BR>\n" );
document.write( "1. Square it. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "2. Add the result to your original number. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "3. Divide by your original number. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "4. Add, oh, how about 17.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5. Subtract your original number. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "6. Divide by 6. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The number you are thinking of now is 3! \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Your help will be greatly appreciated in helping me to solve this Maths Trick.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thanks again!<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #560766 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39620)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=560766\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> This step in the process needs to be precise:  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "<i>4. Add, oh, how about 17.</i>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Know exactly what you want this to be.  As currently written, the statement or instruction is uncertain.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Why should \"the number you are thinking\" be 3, if the reader is allowed to choose any positive integer?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Symbolize the entire sequence of steps and simplify to find a formula.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Think of a number:   n.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1.  ________n^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2._________n^2+n<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3._________(n^2+n)/n<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4.  You need to decide how to fix this step, but as best you gave,______(n^2+n)/n+17<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5__________(n^2+n)/n+17-n<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6._________(n^2+n)/(6n)+17/6-n/6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "All of that is in pure text.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Simplify the expression.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28n%5E2%2Bn%29%2F%286n%29%2B17%2F6-n%2F6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28n%5E2%2Bn%29%2F%286n%29%2B17%2F6-n%2F6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28n%5E2%2Bn%29%2F%286n%29%2B17n%2F%286n%29-%28n%5E2%29%2F%286n%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28n%5E2%2Bn%29%2F%286n%29%2B17n%2F%286n%29-%28n%5E2%29%2F%286n%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28n%5E2%2Bn%2B17n-n%5E2%29%2F%286n%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28n%5E2%2Bn%2B17n-n%5E2%29%2F%286n%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, observe in this expression's step the two additive inverses in the numerator.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28n%2B17n%29%2F%286n%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28n%2B17n%29%2F%286n%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%281%2B17%29%2F6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%281%2B17%29%2F6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=18%2F6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"18%2F6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "which is equal to 3.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The arithmetic according to algebra rules for real numbers makes the sequence of steps produce 3, and the choice of n will not affect this.  The sequence of steps WILL NOT PRODUCE the number which the reader or participant is asked to choose. </SPAN>\n" );
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