12.2 Examples 337
12.2 Examples
If, for example, you, the assistant, want to tell the magician that he
should add 4 to the number (clockwise) on the first card, deal themedium
as the second card, thelargeas the third, and thesmallas the fourth
card. Here are two examples.
1.Suppose you have ♠ 5 , ♣ 7 , ♦J, ♣ 4 , and ♠Q, and you decide
to use the♣cards for the first and the secret ones. The distance
between ♣ 7 and ♣ 4 is of course 3, clockwise from ♣ 4 to ♣ 7.
You therefore show♣ 4 as the first card, and arrange the other three
cards, ♠ 5 , ♦J, and ♠Q, in the ordermedium, small, large. The
second card is♦J, the third ♠ 5 , and the fourth ♠Q.4
♣ J
♦^5
♠ Q
♠?
?The secret card is ♣ 7.
2.Now to the magician. Suppose your assistant show you these four
cards in order:
Q
♠ J
♦^7
♣^4
♣?
?Then you know that the secret card is a♠, and you get the num-
ber by adding toQthe number determined by the orderlarge,
medium, small, which is 6. Going clockwise, this is 5. The secret
card is♠ 5.