Prank your friends with these simple math problems, without any magic skills. Even if it's just a matter of addition, the pattern will trick most people into answering it incorrectly.
Step
Step 1. Ask a friend to listen to your magic trick
Tell your friends that you don't need any special properties. You will only ask him to solve addition problems without the help of tools (just counting them in his head).
Step 2. Tell your friends to add 1000 to 40
Also tell to keep the answer to heart without saying it out loud.
Step 3. Tell your friends to add another 1000
At this point, your friend's answer should be 2040.
Step 4. Tell him to add another 30
Give instructions slowly. Let your friends calculate it in a relaxed and unhurried manner.
Step 5. Add another 1000
If your friend did not make a mistake in counting, the answer is now 3070.
Step 6. Add 20
Tell your friends to add another 20, without saying the answer out loud.
Step 7. Add 1000 one last time
Tell your friends to add 1000 one last time, and that you are almost done. Your friend's current answer should be 4090.
Step 8. Ask what the answer is if the number you thought about is added to 10
Say "Now add 10 and tell me the answer." If your friend is in doubt, encourage him or her by saying "you know the answer, how much?"
Step 9. Tell your friends the correct answer
Most people will answer "5000" but this is not the right answer! The answer to 4090 + 10 is 4100. A common mistake is made when a question is answered out loud, because this trick makes you think of counting large even numbers. You may have to write it down on paper for your friend to believe it.
