Magic is an intriguing and fascinating topic for most kids. Many magic tricks involve sleight of hand or illusion. But some are completely mathematical in nature, and these can serve as a motivation for kids to learn new mathematical concepts while having fun. On this page you will find a collection of magic tricks that use mathematical ideas such as Pigeonhole principle, double complement, permutations, and different base representations of numbers. Click on the links on the left to learn about the tricks. For each trick you will find a short description, recommended grade level, difficulty level, and a detailed handout in PDF format. The handout is divided into three sections: what the audience sees, how to perform it, and why it works.
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