Did I hear a "niner" in there?

Were you calling from a walkie talkie?

I dig this sort of math trick slooge. Who came up with such ... and how? Could we get that person to ensure lower gas prices, even with some fuzzy math?

1.GRAB A CALCULATOR (you won't be able to do this in your head)

2.KEY IN THE FIRST THREE DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER (not the area code)

3.MULTIPLY BY 80

4.ADD 1

5.MULTIPLY BY 250

6.ADD THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER

7.ADD THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER AGAIN.

8.SUBTRACT 250

9.DIVIDE NUMBER BY 2

Do you recognize the answer?