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 OThe travelers paid $9,- each. ($9*3=$27)
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 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 TheMaster37yeah 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.
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.
use different dollar amounts (say, the hotel tries to return $10, and the bellhop skims $1) and the flaw in reasoning becomes readily apparent.