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Do you find the math based card tricks interesting? I feel like they are a bit predictable and thus not very entertaining, but I've never had the chance to perform them to an audience so do they generally work? Aren't people a bit suspicious when you get them to think of a number, then think of the same number and add 1 and subtract 3 or something?

May I ask how long you have been in magic?

I've not been in too long but shared the same views. As I progressed and found an interest in mentalism, I soon discovered that there are some fantastic routines that have their workings around Maths.

Larry Becker has some great routines involving Maths.

Sometimes the way you dress up the method can make it look more desirable.

Alec

I've been watching magic for about 3 years but only started learning around the start of the summer.

So what you're basically saying is its about how you present it? If you present it as more than a math trick people will believe it is more?

Crimsai wrote:I've been watching magic for about 3 years but only started learning around the start of the summer.

So what you're basically saying is its about how you present it? If you present it as more than a math trick people will believe it is more?

Lead them and they will follow

Absolutely. If you can add an element of mental magic/mentalism then it's all the more stronger.

(obviously some Maths based tricks are just rubbish)

Alec

I know this isn't really card mathamagic stuff but your thread reminded me of it so I thought maybe you'd like to take a look and see how one might make mathamatical magic trick entertaining.

http://www.ted.com/talks/arthur_benjami ... magic.html

I agree with others, its all about presentation. The reason many people think it's boring is because it seems to simple. Often amatour magicians present even that way: 'OK, here's a mathematical magic trick...'. All mystery vanishes even before the trick began. So, the method doesn't matter - whether it's maths, slight-of-hand or whatever. Audience is never supposed to know it anyway. It's how you present it

Crimsai wrote:Do you find the math based card tricks interesting? I feel like they are a bit predictable and thus not very entertaining,

Paul Gordon's "Eight Of Diamonds"
I have so much fun with this.

Give it a go.

CArl..

I am not too keen on effects that require the spectator to use maths effects in a performance (think of a number, double it, add x.. etc.)
There are many effects and many areas of magic that rely on branches of mathematics such as :-

Logic
Number Systems (e.g. Binary)
Statistics and probability
Combinations and Permutations

I find these maths techniques invaluable when performing impromptu magic, or when 'reverse engineering' effects on videos in order to work out the method.

The real secret to maths-based effects is to bury the method so deeply that there's no hint of method. Like Discombobulator says, never have the spec count anything (other than their fingers if you're doing the same old lost number hypnosis schtick, yawn yawn).

Tomo wrote:The real secret to maths-based effects is to bury the method so deeply that there's no hint of method. Like Discombobulator says, never have the spec count anything (other than their fingers if you're doing the same old lost number hypnosis schtick, yawn yawn).

Or, if you're like Dani Daortiz, do an effect where the method is math's based, but you keep telling everybody constantly that it's maths based and in the end, the effect is so miraculous...nobody believes you!

If memory serves me right one of Paul Brookes books takes maths to another level.

Topology is maths too. Hunter's Impossible Knot - my party piece for about 45 years - really upsets mathematicians.

Barry

magicofthemind wrote:Topology is maths too. Hunter's Impossible Knot - my party piece for about 45 years - really upsets mathematicians.

Barry

This is the first time I think of topology applied to magic, I must say (shame on me, since I really love topology), could you elaborate a bit/ give some reading suggestions?

There's a difference between a "maths trick" and a "maths-based trick".

A maths trick is clearly centred around mathematics. "Think of a number, double it", etc. Age cards. Lightning calculation. Creating a magic square. Doing a knight's tour of the chessboard. Personally, I find them deadly dull. Children learn "think of a number" stuff and age cards in school. Mathematicians might be impressed by magic squares and knight's tours, but most people won't be. Lightning calculation more impressive to the non-mathematician, but there's no real "wow" factor. Numbers turn people off.

A maths-based trick exploits mathematical principles for its deep working, but on the surface doesn't seem to be mathematical. Paul Carnazzo's "Animania", for example, is based on the age cards principle, but is disguised as an ESP test on a single card. I've seen effects based on parity, and others based on modulo arithmetic.