| Maik |
There were three company salesmen on a trip to find a buyer. Out of town, they needed a room for the night.
At a local hotel, they approached the night desk manager and inquired as to the price of a room they might rent. He responded, "I have a nice room that would accommodate all three of you for $30."
The three agreed that this is a fair rate and each chipped in $10 for the room. They then headed upstairs.
A few minutes later, the desk manager realized that he has forgotten this room was on "special" tonight. It should have been rented for $25. He had overcharged the threesome by $5. As an honest man (knowing that he may very well face the owner's wrath in the morning), he decided to set matters right with the salesmen.
The desk manager sent the bellman up to their room with $5 and instructed him to refund said amount to the salesmen. The bellman knocked on the salesmen's door and, upon answering, explained the situation to the gentlemen.
The salesmen had each contributed equally ($10) to the initial cost of the room, but there was no way that they could divide the $5 rebate equally among the three. They decided that from the $5 rebate, they would each keep $1 and that they would tip the bellman $2. All agreed that this was a fair plan and the bellman departed with his graciously accepted gratuity.
Each of the salesmen had recovered $1 from their initial payment of $10. This means that they had each contributed $9 to the cost of the stay.
So if they had each contributed $9 to the night, this means that:
$9 x 3 = $27
+ $ 2 to the bellman
$29
where is the extra dollar? |
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| vlam |
This is a very old math/finance trick question that has been around for years.
There is no extra dollar.
The total cost of the room is $25, not $30.
The salesmen each gave out $9 * 3 = $27
The bellman got $2
The desk manager got $25, not $30
$25 + $2 = $27
You don't take the $27 + $2 because $27 is the total 'credit' amount. The $25 and $2 are 'debt'. Just another debit/credit trick ququestion. |
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| Pierre |
If it were in Canada, I'd say that the federal govt. managed to tax that $1.00 without their even realizing it.
Actually, there is no extra dollar. When the total cost was $30, each contributed $10. Consider them broke. When the manager gave them $5 back, each had $1.66 in their pocket. When they decided to tip the bellman $2, each contributed $0.66. They now each have $1.00 in their pocket.
Now, together, the manager and the bellman collected $27 ($25 for the room and $2 for the tip).
$27 + (3 x $1) = $30. |
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| andreseng |
There is no extra dollar. Forget about $30 rate as refund was made and deal only with the new rate of $25.
Net paid: 9 x 3 = 27
Actual cost for each: (25/3) = (8.333 x 3) = 25
Tip for Bellman: $2 |
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| TriumphDriver |
| I kept waiting for the blond, blue eye girl to show up! Damn!:12: |
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| mdxx3 |
| They'll get the $1 back by mail-in rebate!! :D |
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