Out of curiosity, Why is it that this works:

if( (startNum+9) < numOfResults){
%><%=(startNum+9)%><%
}
else{
%><%=numOfResults%><%
}

and this does not? :

if( (startNum+9) < numOfResults){
out.write(startNum+9);
}
else{
out.write(numOfResults);
}