1 dollar

this was probably posted here before but reading a book and read it

Three travelers came to a motel and decided to share one room. The clerk registered them for $30. Each of the travelers pitched in $10. After a bit, the clerk realized that the special rate for that day was $25, so he gave the bellhop $5 and told him to take it to the travelers. On his way to the room, the bellhop reasoned that he couldn't split $5 three ways, so he'd just return $3 to the travelers and keep the other $2.

Therefore, each of the travelers wound up paying $9 for his room. Since 9 X 3 is 27, and the bellhop kept $2, what happened to the other dollar (27 + 2 = 29)?

Originally posted by O Artem O
this was probably posted here before but reading a book and read it

Three travelers came to a motel and decided to share one room. The clerk registered them for $30. Each of the travelers pitched in $10. After a bit, the clerk realized that the special rate for that day was $25, so he gave the bellhop $5 and told him to take it to the travelers. On his ...[text shortened]... . Since 9 X 3 is 27, and the bellhop kept $2, what happened to the other dollar (27 + 2 = 29)?

The travelers paid $9,- each. ($9*3=$27)
The clerk gets $25,- and the bellshop $2,- ($25+$2=$27)

Thomaster stated it quite concisely and clearly.

The guests paid $27, of which the bellhop kept $2.
The remaining $3 is in the pockets of the guests, totalling $30.

The important thing is to keep a very clear and systematic frame of reference in your accounting, or else you'll get confused by shifting reference in the middle of counting.

Originally posted by geepamoogle
Thomaster stated it quite concisely and clearly.

The important thing is to keep a very clear and systematic frame of reference in your accounting.

Common sense is more like it.

The $27 INcludes the $2.

It would be nonsense to add the $2 to the $27 to calculate expenses.

Originally posted by TheMaster37
Common sense is more like it.

The $27 INcludes the $2.

It would be nonsense to add the $2 to the $27 to calculate expenses.

yeah it's a classic trick question that uses the coincidence that 29 and 30 are close to each other (or rather, the coincidence that 5 dollars and 2*2 = 4 dollars are close in value) to confuse those who are less mathematically inclined.

use different dollar amounts (say, the hotel tries to return $10, and the bellhop skims $1) and the flaw in reasoning becomes readily apparent.

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