Domino Math Tricks

There are a wide variety of math tricks, and domino math tricks are one that anyone with a set of dominoes can learn and enjoy.

A good math trick should not only be able to amaze the people you present it to, but also contain worthwhile mathematics. And of course, we'll reveal the secrets behind the tricks.

If you're a parent or teacher, Math Magic can be a very fun and alternative way to present material to kids. Be sure to check out our resources for more interesting and exciting tricks.

Here is a Domino Math Activity that helps kids master their math facts.

The Deciding Domino

Effect: You bring out a set of dominoes or borrow it from a friend. After asking a series of questions, you carefully select a single domino and set it aside. You ask a spectator to take the rest of the dominoes and arrange them in traditional domino fashion with like numbers touching each other and to lay the dominoes into a large circle.

When the spectator is done laying out the dominoes, there’s one domino that’s needed to close the circle. It turns out that the domino that you set aside earlier is the exact domino needed to close it.

Materials: A complete set of dominoes

Preparation: None

Ask the spectator some questions such as:“What is your favorite color?” “Do you like to cook?” “What is your favorite movie?”

(These are irrelevant questions that are just designed to dress up the trick.)

Look thoughtfully and then select a single domino. Make it look as if you’re carefully considering the domino that you are selecting and it helps to change your mind a few times. Actually, you’re free to select any domino, it doesn’t matter.

Set your selected domino aside in plain view.

Ask the spectator to layout the dominoes in traditional fashion-like numbers touching like numbers and dominoes with double numbers turned sideways. Also, ask the spectator to layout the dominoes in a circle.

When the spectator is down to a single piece that can complete the circle, it’s found to be the domino that you set aside.

The secret is that a complete domino set can always link to itself when all of the dominoes are laid out. It doesn’t matter which domino you select at the beginning because it will always be the “missing” domino.

If you like domino math tricks, you'll probably also enjoy our math card tricks page.