3 men walked into a hotel and asked for a room. The man at the desk told them that the room was $30, so the 3 men split it evenly, paying $10 each. After they left the front desk and went to unpack in the room, the desk manager realized that the room was only $25, so he sent the extra $5 he overcharged them with the bell boy to give to the men. The bell boy couldn't figure in his head how to split the $5 three ways, so he gave each man $1 each and kept $2 for himself. This means that the men would have only paid $9 each for the room. $9 times 3 is $27, plus the $2 that the bell boy kept would be $29. What happened to the other dollar???
2007-06-05 07:59:20 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
This is all over the web. It's easy.
The confusion is in the wording of the summary. They didn't pay $27 + $2. They paid $27 total. $25 went to the owner and $2 to the bellboy. That's it.
http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/57921.html
Search for "missing dollar" puzzle on the web
2007-06-05 08:02:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a classic problem in misdirection.
Think of this. Each man has $1, for a total of $3. The manager has $25. The bellboy has $2. That is $30.
The problem is that you take the $27 that the men paid for the room and you add the $2 that the bellboy had and think something is missing. But the actual equation should be $27 - $2 - $25. What was paid - what was stolen = rent on the room.
2007-06-05 15:03:36 · answer #2 · answered by TychaBrahe 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think throwing the bell boy in is a trick on the mind. I think that you don't need to pay attention to the bell boy and just focus on the men. Now once I muliplied 9 time 3 I got 27, plus the three men's 1 dollar is going to bring you to 30. Because you should only focus on the money the men are using. If I didn't help I'm sorry and I'll keep working on it.
2007-06-05 15:13:38 · answer #3 · answered by Jorden M. 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a trick question. The men only paid $25 (not the $27 as stated) for the room, each got a dollar back and the bell boy took $2. There is no missing dollar.
I want a cut of your $100!!! j/k
2007-06-05 15:08:40 · answer #4 · answered by libra_girl_jc 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They had thirty minus the 3 they got back. Now they paid $27. The bellboy took two from that $27, so they did pay $25.
30-3=27-2=25
That's the right equation. You just simply did it wrong. If your neighbor actually does give you $100, I'm sure that everyone who responded correctly would like to be credited with their help. Just citing us to her will do. (Get out a piece of paper, so you can list screen names)
2007-06-05 15:24:23 · answer #5 · answered by cory2107 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋