You need to make a set of five rods for a magic trick, with numbers on them ranging from 1 to 31 inclusive. Then you ask people to pick a number and show you only the top number of whatever rods it is on. From that you have to guess which number the person picked. This has to be done within a few seconds and isn't a matter of remembering what numbers are on them.

What numbers should be on each of the five rods?

Smart, SK did it just 'hit' you or seem obvious or had you seen something like this before?
Me I was nowhere - I misread 'whatever rods' as 'whatever rod' and couldn't hold out - I just had to look.
Anyhows, although the question
"What numbers should be on each of the five rods?"
has, of course, been answered I would just like to add that if you mixed the numbers up un each stick, so the top numbers were
1...........1
2...........22
3...........14
4...........18
5...........16
you could simply add the end digits on the rods, unless you see the 'magical' 16 where you add the full 16.
Same result of course, just a bit more showmanship and longevity (most kids would soon realise you've just added the numbers together)
There are probably more 'codes' but this seems quite easy.
I know it doesn't add much, or answer anything asked but I just pictured my nephew's expression should I perform such a trick on him twice.
It isn't one of awe.

Posted by Lee on 2003-11-11 15:03:54