How many times a week would you want to eat chocolate... a numbers game... :)

[Prrkitty]

My number was 9... yes I know I'm diabetic... and yes I love chocolate. Thinking about eating chocolate ain't the same as actually eating it ... thankfully :) So I can wish all I want :)

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1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1759 ... If you haven't, add 1758.

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

7. You should have a three digit number. The first digit of this was your original number (i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).

The next two numbers are... YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

This is the only year (2009) it will EVER work... so spread it around while it lasts. :)

[Jigglysaint]

I got 258. I love choclate plenty, but too much of a good thing makes it less of a treat.

[Fabiano the Spy]

Regardless of what number I pick under your conditions (regardless if this is actually how many times I "want chocolate") I end up with a 2 digit number after the part where you subtract your birth year....

[Beldaran]

I got 258. I love choclate plenty, but too much of a good thing makes it less of a treat.

Unless you are 58 years old, you did it wrong.

[Nicholas Steel]

so...

1 to 9 plus 5, times that by 50 +/- 1759 +/- YOB (year of birth)? It got my age correct but not my original number o_O

[DarkDragon]

No, it works.

Suppose a is your chocolate number, and b is your birth date. Then she's asking you to compute

(2a+5)*50 + 1758 - b (assuming no birth date yet)
= 100a + 250 + 1758 - b
= 100a + (2008 - b)

So the hundreds digit will be a, and the second two digits 2008 minus your birth date (ie, your age.)

Here's one I just made up:

1. Take the last two digits of your birth date and add them together. If you get a two-digit number, add the digits again so you have a one-digit number.
2. Multiply this number by 10.
3. Subtract from this number 9 times the last digit in your birth date.
4. If your number is bigger than 19, subtract 90.
5. Add your number to 1990. You will get your birthdate.

Now try to explain why this trick works (fairly challenging).

[Archangel]

Fucking dyscalculia. You guys give me a headache. Good thing I love you guys. I got 920. Which is me doing it wrong. I'm 19.

80-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9 = -1 + 1990 = 1989.

What did you get kitty?

[Modus Ponens]

I like the bit about how this is the ONLY YEAR IT WILL EVAR WORK, which is true because of the otherwise completely arbitrary numbers 1759 and 1758. Next year if you use 1760 and 1759 instead, it'll still work.

[Prrkitty]

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)
A) 9

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)
A) 9 * 2 = 18

3. Add 5
A) 18 + 5 = 23

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator
A) 23 * 50 = 1150

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1759 ... If you haven't, add 1758.
A) 1150 + 1759 (birthday = jan 12th) = 2909

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.
A) 2909 - 1957 = 952

7. You should have a three digit number. The first digit of this was your original number (i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).
A) 9 = times I wanted chocolate, 52 = my age
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Darky's puzzle:

Before I can do your puzzle - which digits are you specifically asking for - My birth date is Jan 12, 1957 .... so are you asking for the 12th or the 57 out of my birth year?

[Fabiano the Spy]

Okay, I must have miscalculated something, because now I'm getting my age as the last 2 digits, but not my original number :P