Okay, you doctorates of mathematics. Question... If three guys check into a motel, each charged $10 each,?

Question

equalling $30 dollars, and the desk clerk later realizes he should have only charged $25 total. He gave the bellman $5.00 to refund them, but the bellman cheated pocketing $3.00 and only gave them a refund of $1.00 each, keeping $2.00. So $10 less $1 equals $9. Three times $9 is $27. $27 plus the $2 the bellman stoled equals $29. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER DOLLAR?

Answer 1

That's my fee for answering this question yet again. ;-) Also, you should delete the "pocketing $3.00" since it conflicts with the "keeping $2.00" at the end of the same sentence - the $2.00 amount is the correct one for this riddle.

This is a very old riddle (as you can tell from the prices!). It relies on confusing signs between positive and negative - i.e. telling you to add money when you should be subtracting it.

They each paid a net amount of $9 for a total of $27. But the $2 the bellman stole is part of this money, so it makes no sense to add it on again. If you want to track money received by the motel, you need to subtract the $2 from the $27, because the $2 was taken from the motel by the bellman. So you'll get $25 which of course is what we expect.

Answer 2

If the three people paid a total of $27, the $2 the bellman stole would be already included in that amount. (Clerk got $25, bellman got $2). What you add to the $27 instead, is the change ($3 total) the guys got back, which makes it an even $30.

In other words, when the three guys paid $30, they got $3 back, the bellman stole $2, and the clerk kept the remaining $25.

Answer 3

The math is done incorrectly. The money the bellman stole should be subtracted from the $27, giving $25. That plus the $5 refund is $30.

Answer 4

You said the bellman had 5 and kept 3, which means he couldn't have given each guy 1. He could only have distributed 2 total.

Answer 5

the 3 guests gave $10 each. then the bellman kept $2 and gave $1 to each of the 3 guests.So 30 minus 5 = 25. then the Bm's 2 + 1x3 = 30. ((30-5)+2(1x3))
there was never a dollar missing or one dropped it.

Answer 6

The $2.00 the bellman pocketed should not be added. He kept the money. 3x9=27-2=25

Answer 7

I answered this the other night. Look at the money trail from the manager's view - he has all the info. All the three travelers know is that they paid $9 each to stay the night.

From the manager's view:

He receives $30

Gives the bell boy $2 for his tip

Refunds each traveller $1 for total of $3.

Retains $25 .

So $25 + $3 + $2 = $30

Answer 8

You made a mistake with the amount that the bellboy pocketed. If he pockets 3 of the 5 dollars that he is given, he can't pay the men 3 more- he doesn't have that much. He would have to take a dollar out of his own pocket. Whether or not it was a typo or just a trick question, I don't know, but as it is written, it is impossible. You were right to think it was odd that a dollar would still be missing, however cheap the hotel fare may have been.

Answer 9

Nothing. $27 - $2 = 25$
You added the $2 rather than subtracting like you were supposed to.

Answer 10

the adult men paid 10 money each and every. then the administrative gave the bell hop 5 money to refund them, bringing the room entire all the way down to twenty-5 money. the bell hop took 2 money for himself, through fact of this extremely the room and tip fee the adult men 27 money, and gave the the rest 3 to the adult men. so each and every paid 10 money with a a million greenback refund for each. the bell hop extremely has not something to do with this. so each and every paid 10, then have been given a million back so as that all of them paid 9 and had a three greenback refund. in simple terms forget approximately with reference to the bell boy hes in simple terms interior the riddle to confuse you.