This old man told me this today and said he had never been able to figure it out. I figured it out while telling my wife over dinner. Here goes:
Three men get a hotel room. They each pay 10 dollars for the room. A total of 30 dollars. The bell-hop realizes they were over charged because the room only costs 25 dollars. He gives each man one dollar back and keeps 2 for himself. So, each man paid 9 dollars. 3 x 9 = 27 plus the 2 the bell-hop kept equals 29. What happened to the other dollar?
Full Version: Another Paradoxical riddle
QUOTE(joc @ Dec 29 2004, 09:07 PM)
Three men get a hotel room. They each pay 10 dollars for the room. A total of 30 dollars. The bell-hop realizes they were over charged because the room only costs 25 dollars. He gives each man one dollar back and keeps 2 for himself. So, each man paid 9 dollars. 3 x 9 = 27 plus the 2 the bell-hop kept equals 29. What happened to the other dollar?
[right][snapback]428608[/snapback][/right]
[right][snapback]428608[/snapback][/right]
Its 30 - 25 - 3 - 2 = 0
My brains hurts 
the hotel has 25, each guest has 1(total3), and bellhop has 2
25+3+2=30
edit cause i had a 3 where a 1 was supposed to be
25+3+2=30
edit cause i had a 3 where a 1 was supposed to be
What other dollar?
30-1-1-1-2=25
30-1-1-1-2=25
Each guy paid 9 dollars for the room. The bell hop has two. That equals 29...where is the other frigging dollar? 
...or....what is wrong with the logic of the question?
...or....what is wrong with the logic of the question?
QUOTE(joc @ Dec 29 2004, 11:06 PM)
Each guy paid 9 dollars for the room. The bell hop has two. That equals 29...where is the other frigging dollar?
...or....what is wrong with the logic of the question?
[right][snapback]428791[/snapback][/right]
...or....what is wrong with the logic of the question?
[right][snapback]428791[/snapback][/right]
It costs them $25, they each get $3 back, and the bell hop keeps $2 = $30
ok, each guys pays 10, that's 30. but it's $5 too much, so the bell hop keeps 2 dollars. that's 28 the hotel has. now he takes 3 of it and gives it each guy. there is no other dollar!!!!! you sneaky trickster!
LOL! Fess up guys! How many of you who are solving this so easily saw it when I posted it on another thread last week? <g>
Joc:
So, each man paid 9 dollars. 3 x 9 = 27 plus the 2 the bell-hop kept equals 29. What happened to the other dollar?
i say:
that is the problem math is misleading. 30-5=25. extra 5 = --- 3 guys = 3 dollars. bellboy=2 dollars 2=3=5. no missing dollar...
So, each man paid 9 dollars. 3 x 9 = 27 plus the 2 the bell-hop kept equals 29. What happened to the other dollar?
i say:
that is the problem math is misleading. 30-5=25. extra 5 = --- 3 guys = 3 dollars. bellboy=2 dollars 2=3=5. no missing dollar...
QUOTE(Elfstone810 @ Dec 29 2004, 11:01 PM)
LOL! Fess up guys! How many of you who are solving this so easily saw it when I posted it on another thread last week? <g>
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[right][snapback]428995[/snapback][/right]
it took me half an hour, then I remembered that a lot of times in math they put in distractions to throw you off. I worked my way backwards and figured it out. It took me half an hour though
It really threw me off, but when I read the replies I finally got it.
(cheating? Maybe... )
(cheating? Maybe... )
It only took me a few seconds
joc: here's the mathematical solution...
The actual cost of the room is $25.
Each persons share would be $25/3=$8.33
Each ones contribution to the $2 that the bell-hop keeps is $2/3=$0.66
Each gets back $1
So, each ones $10 accounts to $8.33+$0.66+$1
Total split of $30 =($8.33+$0.66+$1)x3
The actual cost of the room is $25.
Each persons share would be $25/3=$8.33
Each ones contribution to the $2 that the bell-hop keeps is $2/3=$0.66
Each gets back $1
So, each ones $10 accounts to $8.33+$0.66+$1
Total split of $30 =($8.33+$0.66+$1)x3
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