In the last lesson, you learned that equations can be used to solve puzzles. For years, mathematicians have been solving the following puzzle to the amazement of their students. Not only is it a fun "trick," but it is based on a sound mathematical principle that makes it work:

By using your house number, a mathematician can calculate your age!

Here's how it works:

               1.Double your house number. 
               2.Add 5. 
               3.Multiply by 50. 
               4.Add your age. 
               5.Add the number of days in a year (365). 
               6.Take that number and subtract 615. 
               7.Pretend it is an amount of money and position the decimal point for dollars and cents.
 
 

Answer: the dollars will be your house number and the cents will be your age.
 
 

 But now the big question is: HOW does it work? Give it a little thought before looking at the answer.
 

Submitted by:  © Elaine Ernst Schneider  is a freelance writer and a teacher. She has been writing since high school and has published articles, songs, and children's work. Presently, Elaine is a curriculum author for Group Publishing and also writes the City Songs column for www.newcolonist.com ezine.