BEATCALC:  Beat the Calculator!

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Back to Calculation Tips & Tricks
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From the BEATCALC mailing list:
a weekly service from B. Lee Clay, archived here by the Math Forum.
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   Dividing a number by 1 1/2

  1. Select a number.
  2. Multiply it by 2
  3. Divide the result by 3.

   Example:

  1. The number chosen to divide by 1 1/2 is 72.
  2. Multiply by 2: 2 x 72 = 144
  3. Divide by 3: 144 / 3 = 48
  4. So 72 divided by 1 1/2 = 48.

   See the pattern?

  1. The number chosen to divide by 1 1/2 is 83.
  2. Multiply by 2: 2 x 83 = 166
  3. Divide by 3: 166 / 3 = 55 1/3
  4. So 83 divided by 1 1/2 = 55 1/3.


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2 March 1998
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