Brain Teaser

[macus23 24]

A Classic:

Three travelers walk into an inn and want to book a room.  The innkeeper says that the room cost $30.  The men pay $10 apiece and walk up to their room.

Later on, the innkeeper realizes that he has overcharged the men for the room.  He should have charged $25 instead.

The innkeeper sends the bellhop to the room with (5) $1 bills to give back to the men.  The bellhop realizes that he wont be able to split $5 among 3 men evenly, so he comes up with a plan.

He gives each man back $1, and then keeps $2 for himself as a tip. 

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Now, each man originally paid $10, but got $1 back.  So the men ended up paying $9 apiece. 

3 x $9 = $27

Then add the $2 the bellhop kept for a tip

$27 + $2 = $29

The original cost of the room was $30, NOT $29.

Where is missing dollar???

[fourthvision 0]

the bellhop stayed there?

[MGMooseKnuckle 0]

It went to Obama?

[AuburnEngineer 0]

Classic Answer:

There is no reason that the money paid by the gentlemen after being duped by the bellboy should sum with the stolen money to give $30. After the duping, they each paid $27, which coupled with their refund gives the original $30. But since the price was really $25, rather than the $27 they did pay, the difference of $2 went right into the bell boys pocket. What should sum to $30 is the money in the register after the refund, $25, the money in the bellboy's pocket, $2, and the refunded money in the collective pockets of the gentlemen marks, $3

[macus23 24]

Classic Answer:

There is no reason that the money paid by the gentlemen after being duped by the bellboy should sum with the stolen money to give $30. After the duping, they each paid $27, which coupled with their refund gives the original $30. But since the price was really $25, rather than the $27 they did pay, the difference of $2 went right into the bell boys pocket. What should sum to $30 is the money in the register after the refund, $25, the money in the bellboy's pocket, $2, and the refunded money in the collective pockets of the gentlemen marks, $3

Correct sir, nice job.

Most of the deception comes from mentioning the $30 original price, and saying:

"$27 + $2 = $29"

It should be $27 MINUS $2 since the price is $25, not $30.