No 36

Cabalistic Numerology

If the letters of the alphabet are assigned numerical values:

A=1, B=2, C=3 etc then words take on values.

For example MADRAS COLLEGE has a value of

13+1+4+18+1+19+3+15+12+12+5+7+5 = 115

Also HAD GOOD MATHS has a value of

8+1+4+7+15+15+4+13+1+20+8+19 = 115

Is this a coincidence or is there some deeper message here?!!

Can you produce similar deep messages using your own school name?

 

ONE gives 15+14+5 = 34 which is certainly not ONE.

Let's assign different values to the letters so that it does give ONE:

O=23, N=-22 and E=0 so that now you get:

ONE gives 23+(-22)+0 = 1 which is definitely ONE.

Can we now get TWO correct? Make T=32 and W=-53:

TWO gives 32+(-53)+23 = 2 which is definitely TWO.

For THREE try H=3 and R=-32.

Can you continue assigning values that make the sums for FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN etc work out correctly?

It is very difficult to do this. Here is a table to help you on your way:

E = 0	L = work this out	T = 32
F = -33	N = -22	U = 48
G = work this out	O = 23	V = -13
H = 3	R = -32	W = -53
I = 53	S = 42	X = -89

Eventually, of course, you will arrive at a number which is impossible to make the sum correct. What number is this?

It may be possible to get further by assigning values in a completely different way from this table and do even better. You might like to try this!

If you have answers, discoveries, new questions etc to do with this Number Fact then...

E-mail us at madrascollege.maths@fife.gov.uk

...and we will publish them here.

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