0
Pieanne Posted 21 years ago
Jokes, Puzzles & Riddles
Missing dollar
3 guys want to share a hotel room and the costs. The clerk charges them $30 ($10 apiece) and sends them up to their room so they can rest. Later he discovers that he's overcharged them for the room, the correct rate for that room is only $25 per night. He sends the bell hop up to their room with their $5 refund. On the way up to their room the bell hop is wondering how he's supposed to split $5 between 3 different guys. In order to avoid the hassle he pockets $2 of the $5, leaving a $3 refund to split between the 3 friends. He does this and leaves... everyone is happy right? Except for the mathematician... the 3 friends each paid $9 apiece for the room ($10 minus the $1 refund) which makes a total cost of $27 ($9 times 3) for the room. $27 plus the $2 the bell hop kept only equals $29 where'd the missing dollar go? In the mathematicians wallet, that's his cut for making you believe that numbers are perfect...
I once knew the solution, but now I've forgotten...
Can someone help me?
I once knew the solution, but now I've forgotten...
Can someone help me?
Top answer
Anne, I too have heard this puzzle and I too know its solution. But I couldn't remember! I've been thinking for the past 10 min,.
- Anne, I too have heard this puzzle and I too know its solution.
- But I couldn't remember!
- I've been thinking for the past 10 min,.
- but to no avail.
- tic...
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
26 Answers
0
Anne, I too have heard this puzzle and I too know its solution. But I couldn't remember!
I've been thinking for the past 10 min,. but to no avail. Let me continue..tic...tic...tic...
I've been thinking for the past 10 min,. but to no avail. Let me continue..tic...tic...tic...
00
0
I have got a closer-solution.
Let's solver it using bottom-up approach. Firstly, the room costs $30 and then the boy keeps $2. Hence, the room rent is $28 and not $27 as assumed.
Therefore 28 + 2 = 30 !!!!
Let's solver it using bottom-up approach. Firstly, the room costs $30 and then the boy keeps $2. Hence, the room rent is $28 and not $27 as assumed.
Therefore 28 + 2 = 30 !!!!
00
0
I think the question is correct.
Let me think for a better solution.
Let me think for a better solution.
00
30 - 3 = 27
the 2 left (from the five) are for the bell boy, and not the three left from above...
the 2 left (from the five) are for the bell boy, and not the three left from above...
00
It's a confusing one this, but there is no missing dollar.
The three men paid $25 for the
motel room and the bellhop kept $2, for a
total of $27 ($9 each man).
The three men paid $25 for the
motel room and the bellhop kept $2, for a
total of $27 ($9 each man).
00
Another way of looking at it :
The facts in this riddle are clear: There is an initial $30 charge. It should have been $25, so $5 must be returned and accounted for. $3 is given to the 3 friends, $2 is kept by the bellhop - there you have the $5. The trick to this riddle is that the addition and subtraction are done at the wrong times to misdirect your thinking - and quite successfully
The facts in this riddle are clear: There is an initial $30 charge. It should have been $25, so $5 must be returned and accounted for. $3 is given to the 3 friends, $2 is kept by the bellhop - there you have the $5. The trick to this riddle is that the addition and subtraction are done at the wrong times to misdirect your thinking - and quite successfully
00
0 Here is the solution : 02 br
02 br
00 Each person's share is $9. So their total amount is $27. 02 br
02 br
00 Here come the tricky part. Now we have to add the remaining $1 of each person, ie $3 rather than $2. The reason is that $27 includes $2 of bell boy and we are forced to think that we should add 2 with 27, which is the actual trap. 02 br
01 bl
02 br
00 Each person's share is $9. So their total amount is $27. 02 br
02 br
00 Here come the tricky part. Now we have to add the remaining $1 of each person, ie $3 rather than $2. The reason is that $27 includes $2 of bell boy and we are forced to think that we should add 2 with 27, which is the actual trap. 02 br
01 bl
00
0 You've found the solution, Praveen, thank you! 02 br
00 But I knew there was a trap in the way the question is asked! 0-
00 But I knew there was a trap in the way the question is asked! 0-
0
Related Questions