CHOCOLATE MATHEMATICS

Work this out as you read.
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out! It's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate.   (try for more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (Just to be bold)

3...Add 5. (for Sunday)

4. Multiply it by 50.   I'll wait while you get the Calculator................

5. If you have already had your birthday this year, add 1754....
If you haven't, add 1753 ...

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number.

The first digit of this was your original number.
(i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each Week).

The next two numbers are ........

YOUR AGE! ~ (Oh YES, it IS!!!!! )

P.S. This "trick" only works for 2004 -- you will have to add one to the numbers in step five for each year after 2004.

Solution to the Problem:

Here is a quick explanation (using algebra):

Step 1. Let n = number of times a week you would like to have chocolate.

Step 2. Then you get 2n

Step 3. Then you get 2n + 5

Step 4. Then you get 100n + 250

Step 5. Then you get 100n + 2003 or 100n + 2004
depending on whether or not you have had your birthday in 2004.

Step 6. Then you get 100n + your age
because your age is the difference between 2004 (or 2003) and the year that you were born.

The 100n just moves your original number over to the hundreds digit.

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher