A MATHEMATICAL MYSTERY

You are invited to perform the following steps. (Be warned

that if you choose too large of a number you or your calculator
may reach its limits!)
Step A: Pick ANY number, and write it inside of These
brackets. [ ]
Step B: Write the sum of 1 and the number from Step A
inside of these brackets. [ ]
Step C: Write the sum of 4 and the number from Step B
inside of these brackets. [ ]
Step D: Write the sum of 1 and the number from Step C
inside of these brackets. [ ]
Step E: Write the difference between the number in Step D
and 4 in these brackets. [ ]
Step F: Write the sum of 1 and the number from Step E
inside of these brackets. [ ]
Step G: Write the sum of 4 and the number from Step F
inside of these brackets. [ ]
Step H: Write the difference of the product of the numbers
in steps E, F, and G, from the products of the
numbers in steps A, B, and C in these brackets.
(PHEW!) [ ]
Now, FINALLY (Step H stands for "HOORAY!"), if you have
calculated correctly (?), the number in Step H should be 12,
regardless of which number you started with.
Why is this? It can be proven with simple algebra (Prove it!),
if you first disentangle the words. It can even be proven by
simple arithmetic, starting with 1+2=3. ( Harder to prove, try
it!)
But, and here is a mystery, there are deeper properties of
mathematics that are buried within it. For instance:
There is a connection with the crystal structure of diamonds
and a connection with the mathematical structure of rotations in
three dimensional space.
I find all of this so fascinating that I once wrote a slogan
about it. It was: "Because one plus two equals three, diamonds
are possible." Later, when I thought of numbers being defined
starting with the "empty set" (the mathematical equivalent of
"nothing") it seemed that, maybe, this should be: "All patterns
of being can be heard in the echoing silences of our minds."
So I guess finally, what you are really invited to partake of
the mystery of mathematics; a mystery without an answer.
Bill Reed
24 September, 1997