Comments on: Debunking Email Forwards

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:32:11 +0000

What I don’t understand…why doesn’t it work on an adding machine?

By: Monica

Monica — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:44:15 +0000

let the first 3 digits of your number be x = abc and the last four digits be y =defg

where a-g are the digits

The sequence of operations can be rewritten as:

((x*80 + 1) * 250 + 2 * y – 250)/2

If you distribute the first 250 you get

(20000x + 250 + 2y – 250)/2

Cancel the 250′s

(20000x+2y)/2

Divide both elements of the numerator by two (distribute the 2)

10000x + y

Since x is a three digit number abc, abc * 10000 = abc0000

Since y is a four digit number defg, 10000x + y = abcdefg.
Thus we see using algebra that you end up with the same 7 digit number you started out with.

By: EP Diddy

EP Diddy — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:14:23 +0000

I love the idea, but what do you do if the absurd email forward is from family? Do you still get smarmy as hell with the public humiliation?

By: Kevin F

Kevin F — Fri, 18 May 2007 19:34:02 +0000

By multiplying by the 80 and the 250 you will be multiplying the prefix by 20,000. All this is, is doubling the prefix and adding the zeros needed to put the prefix in the right position. Adding the 1, just keeps you from noticing it. Then you add your last four digits twice. You then remove the 1 times 250 that had been inserted for confusion and divide by 2. The result is your phone number.

In other words , take your first 3 digits of your phone number multiply by 10,000, then add your last four digits!!!!!!

By: MissChantillyStevens

MissChantillyStevens — Fri, 04 May 2007 16:40:23 +0000

i hate when forwards tell me what to do, but i did get something from this one…
1.took out my calculator
2.put it in the sun
3.punched in 55378008
4.turned it upside down
5.laughed
6.handed it to a co-worker

By: ryan

ryan — Thu, 03 May 2007 15:35:13 +0000

What is so unique about 2:03:04 5/6/07 that stands out from others? The answer; nothing. I would think 1:02:03 4/5/06 would be more attractive since it starts with 01. And who says time in this order goes first? What if I presented the order 5/6/07 8:09:10?? I want to know who so I can point and laugh. This person obviously didn’t think the whole thing through and didn’t come up with all different variations of running numbers. Sounds like a job for rainman.

By: The Centaur

The Centaur — Wed, 02 May 2007 23:02:14 +0000

Ryan,

Read the forward again, it specified the string “02:03:04 05/06/07″. My response was correct.

Now, allow me to use the Nelson voice: “Hah hah”

And you can use the Homer voice: “D’oh”

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 02 May 2007 17:57:30 +0000

Hows that for an internet de-pantsing! *In Simpson’s bully’s voice* HAH HAH

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 02 May 2007 17:53:39 +0000

It will happen alot earlier than that!

How about 03:04:05 6/7/08? Next year!

By: The Centaur

The Centaur — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:13:42 +0000

First off, it does work. Try it again if you haven’t completely lost interest.

Second, good work Freud’s Slip, and the Lion was on the right track too.

Essentially, this is not an unbelievable math problem. There is no “trick” involved, nor is there any mathematical phenomenon taking place that “someone came up with.”

In reality, this is how it works:
1. Key in the first half of your phone number.
2. Do a lot of extraneous steps involving large numbers.
3. Key in the second half of your phone number.
4. Do more extraneous steps that cancel out the first set of extraneous steps.
5. Voila, you have your phone number.

Anyway, I’m glad that this post has gotten some exposure. Be on the lookout for future bogus forwards regarding 07/07/07. I’m sure they are forthcoming.