A 5-dimensional magic die

Word Ways, Nov, 2007 by David S. Dillon, Jeremiah Farrell

This extends the 3-dimensional HOT-PAD and the 4-dimensional SALT-MINE dice described in "Magic Word Dice", May, 2007 to a fifth dimension (see also J. Puder's remarks in the August 2007 Colloquy). A schematic (2-dimensional!) drawing of the 5-cube follows. It is based on the word pair POLAR-MINES and every node word uses exactly one each of the five pairs 1 = P-M, 2 =O-I, 3 = L-N, 4 = A-E and 5 = R-S. On the back cover is the double toms representation that will be easiest to use for the magic.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The magic trick is performed as follows. The subject starts on a word-node of his choice and moves in 5-dimensions as often as he pleases, calling out the number (dimension) of the edge he travels as he does so. When he is finished, he gives the magician either the start or end node word and the magician immediately gives the missing word.

The Method. The magician simply keeps track of the five dimension numbers noting that x x = 0 for all x. For example, suppose the subject calls out 4, 3, 2, 4, 1, 5, 2 and stops. The 4s and 2s cancel leaving only 3, 5, and 1. This means that the two terminal words differ in the 1st, 3rd and 5th places. So if one word was POLAR the other word would have to be MONAS.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

DAVID S. DILLON

Jolietsville, Indiana

JEREMIAH FARRELL

Indianapolis, Indiana