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I've never been much into math magic. Mainly because I've always thought it a bit obvious, and secondly - well I'm not that good at maths. A certain card trick that shall remain invisible:wink: has been messed up a number of times by me because i couldn't add.
However - I have been reading Banachek's Psychological subtelties (I'll review it once I've reread it) and he shows you how you can present one or two number tricks in a way that make them truly mystifying. I've used one a couple of times now and the response I get is very good. So I'd agree that it is about presentation. But then again the same can be said for so many magical effects

Hello there.

I think maths has its place in magic, but think about it this way: the raw numbers don't have to stay like that. They could represent a quantity, a code or even a secret index to entirely different information. iin conjunction with a stacked deck you can do a succession of interesting things. It's also useful sometimes to view deals as matrix transformations and reflections. I don't think I'm giving anything away saying that, but I'll respect any moderator edit.

The other strange thing is that as humans we're very bad at reverse engineering simple equations to see how an effect works. The use of calculators has, in my opinion, made people, especially younger people, more easily mathematically exploitable

For example, I have a cheap and nasty effect whereby a spec thinks of a number and adds the next two consecutive or equally-spaced values to it. They add them together carefully, they tell me the answer, the 'fluence descends like a psychic fog, and I tell them the original number. Most people simply can't see how that's done within a reasonable period of time. The maths, however, is trivial.

sorry - posted in error

There is definitely a big place for mathematics in Magic. I use it all the time like things in 13 Steps like getting the day of the week someone was born on.

Magic Squares are interesting and I use them, the authority on this seems to be Mark Farrar - http://www.markfarrar.co.uk/indexnc.htm

Mark has written a very useful book which gives more information on Magic Squares than you will ever need! If he didn't come across as being such a nice man I would be slightly worried about someone who has been so obsessively interested in such a narrow subject

I have also learnt a couple of card counting tricks which are just based on simple mathematical principals.

Also, the Galbraith effect, which I have learnt about from Max Maven is just maths really. Correct me if I am wrong, but Galbraith was an economist so this principal must have applied in spheres other than magic - more background information please!

Roland wrote:There is definitely a big place for mathematics in Magic. I use it all the time like things in 13 Steps like getting the day of the week someone was born on.

There are far easier ways than that horrible formula. I mean, just look at the working for the examples! (Divide by seven? Under pressure? Argh! )

Well it did take me a long time to get the hang of that one. I'm not sure I could go through the torture of learning another method now, even if it is easier.

Also, the Galbraith effect, which I have learnt about from Max Maven is just maths really

One has to assume you are refering to the Gilbreath Principle? Which is indeed a favourite of Mr. Maven ("A thing of terrifying Beauty" if memory serves correct).

Roland wrote:Magic Squares are interesting and I use them

What sort of things do you do with them (without giving anything away)?

I also use a magic square. Spectator picks a number and I fill in the square showing that every line and square matches their number. Then I remove an envelope from my wallet and open it and the card inside says, I knew you would choose the number ??

This is already written on the back of my business card which is given to the spectator.

Yes, I do something similar. I force a group of people to think of the same number, then I draw the magic square that adds up to that number. Sometimes I ask them to give me some of the numbers that make up the square using some selective questioning.

However I don't reveal why that 4 x 4 grid of numbers has been drawn, I then talk about the numbers that have been written down.

Then its a big reveal as I show that not only are they thinking of the same number but that I knew all along.