Three dive buddies were driving to a dive site and stopped at a motel for the night. The room rate was $30, so they each paid $10 and went up to the room. While getting some ice, one of the buddies met the person from the next room and found out that he had paid only $25.
When he told his buddies, they decided to call the manager to find out why they had paid $30. The manager admitted the mistake and gave the bellhop $5 to give back to the divers. The bellhop said to himself: How can I split $5 between 3 guys? I will give each of them $1 and keep $2 for myself! Which he did.
So now the divers had paid $9 each ($10 less $1 they got back). 3 x $9 = $27. Plus $2 the bellhop kept = $29. What happened to the other dollar?
2006-07-23 18:10:39 · 8 answers · asked by dhampton82 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
lim (# of times this question is asked) = ∞
time→∞
Indeed, I would guess (# of times this question was asked) ≥(number of weeks since yahoo answers started)
2006-07-23 18:35:02 · answer #1 · answered by Scott R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing happened to the dollar. All the money is still there. Yes, they each ended up paying $9 each for a total of $27. Plus the $3 they got back is a total of $30-it's all there. They were supposed to pay $25 but they paid $27, which makes sense because the bellhop kept $2.
Charges: $25 for the room + $2 for the bellhop=$27 $30 initial charge - $3 refund = $27 Each paid $9 and $9 x 3 = $27
The trick is in the statement, "The three men had now paid $9 each, or a total of $27. This plus the $2 the bellhop kept for himself makes a total of $29."
The $27 is the total payment and $2 is a cost, not a payment! It just happens to add up to $29 giving the illusion of a missing dollar.
2006-07-24 01:19:27 · answer #2 · answered by Nymph 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is $30 charge. Should have been $25, so $5 has to be returned. $3 is given to the 3 friends, $2 is kept by the bellhop = $5. The trick to this riddle is that the addition and subtraction are done at the wrong times to screw you up....... Each of the 3 friends did pay $9, , and as far as the friends are concerned, they paid $27 for the night. But the clerk will tell us that they were charged only $25 and when you add the $3 returned with the $2 kept by the bellhop=$30.
2006-07-24 01:16:58 · answer #3 · answered by ★Fetal☆ ★And ☆ ★Weeping☆ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lets assume it was only one person. He paid $30, got $5 back and gave the bellhop $2. This means he paid $27 all up. There would be $3 left. So, each person paid $9 which covered the room and the bellhop, and they each had a dolloar left over. $27 +$3 =$30.
2006-07-24 01:32:10 · answer #4 · answered by Jimbo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This stupid riddle is older than I am. The question about $27 plius $2 is just a nonsense question. The answer is $27 that the divers paid MINUS $2 that the bellhop kept equals the $25 that the motel got.
2006-07-24 01:14:33 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't just add and subtract numbers--actually follow the dollar bills (which are assumed to be indestructible). If you start with 30 of them, then you must finish with 30 of them. Try to figure out how the +/- bookkeeping you were doing steers you wrong.
2006-07-24 01:21:03 · answer #6 · answered by Benjamin N 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 points. This question is worth two points. From the moment I saw it, till I decided to answer, I was convulsed with laughter. Someday I intend reading it.
2006-07-24 02:03:52 · answer #7 · answered by blind_chameleon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
plus the $1 they got back.....somthing like that
2006-07-24 01:19:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋