A symmetry approach to number tricks
General Mathematics
2026-04-07 v4
Abstract
We generalize the classical "1089-number trick", which states that a certain combination of addition, subtraction and swapping the digits of a three-digit number will always output 1089. More precisely, we show that any pair of zero divisors in the group ring on the n-th symmetric group gives rise to a partition of the set of n-digit numbers into subsets defined by linear inequalities, such that the zero divisors act constantly on each and hence define a number trick.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2509.04487,
title = {A symmetry approach to number tricks},
author = {Håkon Kolderup},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.04487},
year = {2026}
}