Name: A performance of "Mathemagic"
Uploaded: 2007-12-13T00:13:00Z
Duration: 15 min 1 s
Description: In a lively show, mathemagician Arthur Benjamin races a team of calculators to figure out 3-digit squares, solves another massive mental equation and guesses a few birthdays. How does he do it? He’ll tell you.

Arthur Benjamin: A performance of "Mathemagic"

A performance of "Mathemagic"

In a lively show, mathemagician Arthur Benjamin races a team of calculators to figure out 3-digit squares, solves another massive mental equation and guesses a few birthdays. How does he do it? He’ll tell you.

Lightning-fast mental calculation can rival, and sometimes beat, the speed of modern technology. In a vivid display, complex squares of three-, four-, and even five-digit numbers are solved in seconds, often faster than a calculator-wielding team. Tricks like determining a missing digit from a seven-digit product or naming the day of the week for any birthday reveal the hidden potential of trained memory and mathematical intuition. These feats transform math from a dry subject into a source of delight and amazement.