Using numerals on a calculator to kind phrases when seen the other way up is a numerical novelty. This playful train makes use of the ten digits to symbolize letters of the alphabet, akin to ‘3’ for ‘E’, ‘7’ for ‘L’, ‘0’ for ‘O’, and ‘1’ for ‘I’. By performing a calculation after which inverting the system, outcomes could reveal readable phrases. A easy instance is 338, which, when flipped, resembles the phrase “BEE”.
This observe gained reputation within the late twentieth century with the widespread availability of digital calculators. It serves as a lighthearted type of numerical recreation and a reminder of how technological instruments may be tailored for surprising purposes. Whereas in a roundabout way associated to complicated calculations, the formation of those numerical phrases provides a easy diversion and a way to interact with arithmetic in a artistic approach.