Pick a number

We'll begin this story with a quick exercise in thinking.  Don't read ahead or you will spoil the fun.

Pick a number 1-10.  Now take that number and multiply it by 9.  Add the digits of that number together (17 would be 1+7=8 for example).  Then subtract 5.  Take your new number and match it up to the corresponding letter of the alphabet (1=a, 2=b, and so on).  Think of a country that begins with this letter.  Now take the last letter of the country and think of an animal that begins with that letter.  Finally take the last letter of your animal and think of a fruit that begins with that letter.

Now think about your country, animal, and fruit. 




Are you thinking of a kangaroo in Denmark eating an orange?

For many people, I have just blown your mind.  For a smaller group you have no idea what I'm talking about as you have picked something completely different and find my prophetic abilities rather pathetic.  This is an exercise in thinking because most people will pick the same things.  I did the first time I did it.  So did most of the people I tried it on at school, including my history teacher who was rather shocked when I handed him a paper with his answers that I had jotted down before we even started.

It works because, as I'm sure math minded people have already noticed, you will always end up with the number 4 as your final number and so will always use the letter D for your country.  There are only 3 countries that begin with the letter D so most people will pick Denmark, a few will pick the Dominican Republic, and a few academics will select Djibouti.  I've had a few people who did pick Denmark go for koala instead of kangaroo as well.  But, especially when doing this in person, people will pick the most common answers because they are what pops into their heads first.

I asked Amy to do this exercise many years ago over AIM.  And Amy, being a smarty pants, ended up with something completely and totally different that what she should have.  The conversation that followed went something like this:

Amanda: You must have done something wrong.
Amy: Nope.
Amanda: No, you had to have done the math wrong, that answer isn't possible
Amy: Sure it is
Amanda: Well what number did you use to start?
Amy: 7.5
Amanda: ...
Amy: You never said anything about it having to be a whole number!

Later in the conversation we got into a random debate about something or other and Amy proclaimed, "7.5 I win!" thus declaring herself victor of the debate.  Even later still in the conversation I tried to win another random discussion with the power of 7.5, but Amy protested with, "But I already won today."

In order to continue her winning streak, the next day at school Amy found me at my locker and shouted, "7.5 I win!"

Thus began a longstanding competition between the two of us to see who would win each day.  While in high school it often involved sneaking up to the other's locker or being incredibly vigilant until we first saw each other.  Many days it was too close to call, both of us spotting the other in the band hall (our mutual first class) and shouting "7.5 I win!" much to the surprise and confusion of everyone else.  We had rules for winning on the phone and in instant messages for days when we didn't see each other in person.  We always let the other person win on their birthday.  The winner won nothing, other than the pride that they had won that day and perhaps an extra negotiating tool when wanting the other to do something.

Although we don't do this every day as we did in school (there's just something missing when its not in person) this tradition between the two of us continues to this day and will probably go on for many years to come.