OK, so how does this work?

[saint]

I'm normally not bad at figuring out how math puzzles work. I don't get how this works though. It was accurate 100% of the time for me. Like, 20 different times. Anyone know how this works? Does it not work right for anyone?

http://louhi.kempele.fi/~skyostil/archive/dump/flash/psychic.swf

[saint]

Ok, got my first clue. Warning, spoiler . . .

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The symbols aren't static - they change each iteration.

[somunny]

My nine year old daughter is fascinated with this.

[Loki]

Haha, you always end up at the same numbers ^^;
Nicely done though

[jbox]

By the way, a great way to help kids learn their 9x table is to show them that if you put both hands up, put down the nth finger and then either side of that finger you get (n-1) and (10-n), which together gives you that number times nine.

[ChadTower]

It's a "trick".  A coworker and I figured this out last year.  There is a very simple algorithm to it but I won't spoil it for you.  It's not obvious but the math going on is basic algebra at best.  The difficult part is working past the presentation.

[somunny]

It's a "trick".  A coworker and I figured this out last year.  There is a very simple algorithm to it but I won't spoil it for you.  It's not obvious but the math going on is basic algebra at best.  The difficult part is working past the presentation.

I thought the computer was actually reading my mind!

[saint]

Yeah, these don't normally suck me in, but the glowing orb and the Star Trek sound man!

It's a "trick".  A coworker and I figured this out last year.  There is a very simple algorithm to it but I won't spoil it for you.  It's not obvious but the math going on is basic algebra at best.  The difficult part is working past the presentation.

[boykster]

neat puzzle.  I can see how the glowing orb and fancy star trek noise could distract you from the obvious fact about the puzzle....

(its rigged so that any combo you pick is the same symbol, but it changes from iteration of the puzzle to the next)

[Spaz Monkey]

Saw this trick last year, and explained it to my dad.

Check out this toy and see the patterns.
http://www.zefrank.com/matrix/index.html

[Unholyknight]

Maybe i did it wrong, my symbol i was thinking of wasnt what was shown to me

I found a broken case I guess. Every other number i picked worked

[sodapopinski]

Maybe i did it wrong, my symbol i was thinking of wasnt what was shown to me

I found a broken case I guess. Every other number i picked worked

its the same every time, you must of messed up your math that time.

[AlanS17]

It has to do with multiples of 9. There's more than one possible answer, but it's always going to be a multiple of 9. If you notice, all multiples of 9 all have the same character. That character changes everytime you play the game.

I don't know if anyone pointed that out or not yet because I haven't really read the thread all the way through.

[Texasmame]

Cool puzzle. . .

clue. . .
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Naughty number nine. . .

EDIT:   Oooooh.  Fuzzy Cat with Big Eyes beat me to it by a minute!