Krypto Babe Magnet

Okay, this is how it goes...

• You get any random five numbers between 1-25
• Then you get a sixth random number between 1-25
• Finally , you use any combination of addition, subtraction, multiplication or division with the first 5 numbers to equal the sixth number.
• You can use them in any order.
  

For example, five random numbers: 2, 20, 18, 7, 11
A sixth random number: 14

2x20= 40
40-18= 22
22/11= 2
2x7= 14

That's how you play Krytpo! It's really easy, fun, exercises the brain and makes you more popular.

Now, when I was in school, I was the Krypto champion. You heard me correctly. I played in competitive Krypto tournaments. This is how it'd go down; several uber-cool students would sit around a table, while a dealer would distribute cards with numbers on them and place a master number in the middle. We then had to figure out the problem and shout "Krypto!" before anyone else. As everyone was pretty good at head math at this level, you usually had to end up saying Krypto right after you flipped your cards over. Then we had to explain how to solve the math problem. If you faltered or hesitated even for a moment, the other competitors (I use that term loosely) would shout in protest and the dealer would eliminate you from that round. So, even if you didn't have the problem figured out, you could try and bluff your way through it. If nobody caught you, or you figured it out on the spot, then you'd get the points for that round. At the end of many rounds the dealer adds up all the points and declares the winner. They then advance from table to table, leaving behind a wake of crushed dreams...smashed on the rocks of reality. The reality that the loser goes home and cries themselves, and their big neuron sparking melon, to sleep on their huge pillow.

Here is my dilemma. I ruled at Krypto. For two years (it would have been three in a row had I not been cheated by the hairy knuckled loser, Simon McDonald) I was the king of Krypto. I had my picture on the wall in the math lab, a manila colored certificate, and had my name promulgated over the intercom during morning announcements. It went something like this;

"So, that's all for sports, SNORE!!!. Now to the good stuff. The annual Krypto tournament was held on Friday night. Not sure why they did it on a Friday night, you'd think these studs of statistics would be out with their older, totally hot girlfriends from the community college, but no, they put that aside for one night of mathematical mayhem. Good thing they did, 'cause a packed auditorium witnessed a display of cranial combustion! In case you weren't there, not likely, or haven't heard, decidedly less likely, the new number krunching king is...no surprise, Todd "I brought my own folding chair, thank you" Jensen. Defending his title and winning a SAH-WHEAT new mobile computer and/or calculator thingy that he can even strap onto his wrist if he's ever in a pinch. If you see him in the hall, say congrats...he makes us Jaguars proud!"

So, back to my dilemma. Since those glory years of my youth, I've had to try and convince Annie that I was incredibly cool when I was young. You see, sports, student government, being funny and other non-essentials weren't really big at my school. Strange, I know. It was a nutty little oasis where girls just loved the math guys. Intriguing kids, draped in mystery and subtle allure, that could think on the spot and quickly turn out little mind puzzles- just drove them crazy. It was a strange phenomenon that Annie hasn't been able to buy into...yet. I'm hopeful that if I play my cards right, and continue to correct her head math in public whenever opportunity permits, she'll eventually see the appeal, and know just how lucky she really is.