Show MAGIC of a MYSTIFYING COIN PROBLEM A SCIENTIFIC coin problem by which some A mysterious numerical effects can be produced pro dued is described as follows in the Scientific Scientific Scientific American by Theodore L. L de Lamb In the accompanying design Fig 1 you will observe e 56 circles each the size of a one cent coin On each circle will be found four playing cards the entire lot forming a combination that would be impossible for the human brain to remember You can however place five one cent coins in any section of the design setting them according to either arrangement shown in Fig 2 and perform an apparently impossible miracle Request some one to place the five coins at any part of the design just so they form a 0 fe f DW mi l 1 Dif Di i i il 1 Hf G t D o Mi w. w r s i D i tl F 1 i- i t Af fl jI f. f Fig 2 Two 2 Two Arrangements of the Coins tion like either one shown You are out of the thero ro room m while this is being done and without going through an any mental calculation you can instantly name the total number of spots on on the cards under under un un- un der tho the five coins Strange as it may seem the result will invariably be with either cither of the combinations in any section of the tho design Another good effect is to take six coins and have them placed in a straight lino line adjoining ono one another in any part of the design either vertical horizontal or perpendicular You are arc to name the number of spots on the cards under r the six coins To do this count from either end cent in a v e o straight line in any direction to the fifth circle from this cent Quickly total the number of spots on the four cards on the circle and to this total add The grand total will be X KI CT K KC c T TE C CE E Q II If U M E Q I U MF M MF F F W O 0 B S F W O 0 B DS 5 L D A P H Y L D P H V VR Y R J d V N A R J d V N A x K C T G X K C T G Ci GE E Q I U M E Q 1 I. I U MF M MF F W p 0 B S F FW W O 0 S B S 9 L LD D P H Y L D P H YR Y R J V N A R J V N A Fig Jois 3 The 3 The Magic Square cal with the number of spots on the cards under the six cents A one cent nt coin placed on any circle also gives you a chance to demonstrate a peculiar effect Count in any direction to the fifth circle from the cent and on this circle will be bo found the identical J cards under the cent The method of laying out the design is simple enough First a square is formed composed of units each represented by one of the first 25 letters letters letters let let- from the alphabet Each letter appears four times being so arranged that the repeated letters let let- tens are five points apart the four forming a square as shown in Fig 3 Commencing at A the letters are given numbers in consecutive order order order or or- der beginning at 10 and ending at Y with 34 The object in commencing at 10 is that th the lowest number formed by the pips on four tour different playing cards is 10 We have bave then A 10 B 11 C 12 12 D 13 E l 14 F 15 G 16 H 17 I 1 18 J 19 K 20 L 21 M 22 N 23 0 24 P 25 Q 26 R 27 S 28 T 29 U 30 V 31 W 32 X 33 Y 34 At one glance glanco it is a self evident fact that any five consecutive letters taken either vertical horizontal or on the diagonal form an equation tion For example commence at X in the top row and andR nd R at the bottom X K C T f T G GR GR R R R-fJ-fV R J V N A The playing cards are placed just so each circle is represented by cards whose total spots equal the required number If It all of the 25 letters letten are used in certain series of five each you get various combinations but each totals Samples arc are arcA arcA areA A H O 0 O-fV O V S B BI I I I-fK I 1 K W T C J L X P i D F fY fM M Y Q I j jE E G G. G Nand N N-fU N U R and the letters are so placed that eith either r of the patterns of Fig 3 3 placed anywhere on Fig 1 will cover one of these combinations combinations and and that is Ie all there is to it T 9 Fig 1 t 1 e t se see seer r 5 5 Which Contains Conta S 4 1 e. e e ery ry ItT ItT- i 1 i. i 4 4 4 I. I 44 I. I Six Z t e a Circles v I 1 1 Each ch u V 4 4 r. r the the r Size 4 5 V of a a a t One 4 4 C Cent ent 4 5 A 1 Coin 4 1 1 and 44 t. t r 1 y 1 a Wi Within Each 4 Z e i 44 4 Circle V V 1 1 s Poor Four Playing j e F I. I 44 41 t C Cards v I e 54 4 1 r rr r 1 1 i 1 1 ji f- f rIF t E Ew 1 1 r i r f k ki i 1 I J f 17 f 1 J Aj w 1 t p 1 t of f v Jol 5 o C J IJ w YEA |