Why Does This Work?

@sulsisels (1685)
United States
February 10, 2011 8:49pm CST
Hi Friends..Well, today is my birthday and a friend of mine sent me a card with this little brain teaser thing. It's interesting and it works but my question is why? Here it is: Take the year you were born (I am 1956, so I use 56) and add the age you will be this year (55 for me) and the answer will always be 111. 56 + 55 = 111. Try it with your stats..Now my question to all you math wiz people, Why does it work?
3 people like this
5 responses
@LaDeBoheme (2004)
• United States
11 Feb 11
You were born in 1956. This year you are 55. 55 added to 1956 is 2011 which is the current year. Take away the 19, it is 111. Next year in 2012, it will add up to 112. Last year in 2010, it added up to 110.
@sulsisels (1685)
• United States
12 Feb 11
Thank-you LaDeBoheme..Its so easy once someone shows you!!! Thanks very much for your help. I would have been here until next week trying to figure it out!! Appreciate it! J
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
11 Feb 11
I have no idea why it works,and the previous poster did not understand. I got to thinking though and if you are born in 2000 or later it will only add up to 11 not 111. Hmmm. I hope Owlwings or someone smart like that finds this discussion.
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
11 Feb 11
Correction, I said the person above me did not understand, but I was wrong, she understood better than I did. Hubby pointed out that it worked for the year 2010 age and would come out 110. So when the above poster said subtract 19 from the front, it would also work for the years following 2000 as well. Hubby says it just always ends up with the last two digits the same as the current year.
• United States
11 Feb 11
Sorry for the confusion. I did inadvertently say 19 instead of 20. I guess I still think I'm in the 20th century!
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
11 Feb 11
Hi Sulsie It works the same for me and anyone that was born before the Year 2000 I never knew this till it was pointed out to me Next Year it will do the same lol which is really amazing
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
11 Feb 11
What LaDeBoheme said is right, same thing my math whiz son told me.
• United States
11 Feb 11
Oops, Happy Birthday, I hope you don't get too many more brain teasers..:)
@lumenmom (1986)
• United States
11 Feb 11
Very interesting question. I am still not sure I fully understand the answer, but I guess my brain is too tired right now to think it through.
@sulsisels (1685)
• United States
14 Feb 11
I know..I had to wait to morning to grasp it too!!