Want to try a crazy math trick that works every single time? This one involves reversing digits and subtracting—it looks like a total mind-reader!
It’s a fantastic brain teaser to start your math block or for a quick “Fun Friday” challenge. Give it a go and prepare to be amazed!
Math Trick #1
Step 1
Write down a three-digit number whose digits are decreasing. Any number of your choice.
e.g. 321
Step 2
Then reverse the digits to create a new number
e.g. 123 (reverse of 321)
Step 3
Now subtract the new number from the original number
e.g. 321 – 123 = 198
Step 4
With the resulting number, add it to its reverse.
e.g. 198 + 891 (reverse of 198)
The answer will always be 1089!
When I tried this trick with my students, it was so funny to see them keep trying different combinations to try and prove me wrong. I guess the part of this math trick was that I tricked them into doing math without them realizing it!
The reason this trick is so fun is that math is just a big, secret puzzle that always has a solution.
If your students love “solving a puzzle,” that’s the entire idea behind my Math Mysteries. They take all the “boring” math standards and wrap them in a fun, high-engagement “case file.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE MATH MYSTERIES
