Puzzle if you can solve

Ravi kumar...A Big Fan of Admi (Article Assistant) (622 Points)

01 June 2009  

Math seems pretty straightforward. And it's either simple calculations or complex ones. But there is always a solution...Or is there!!!

Let's try this. (figures are just examples and are not reflective of any rates.


3 guys who were traveling stopped at a motel for the night. They got a not-so-expensive room for themselves, which cost them $30. So each guy had to shell out $10. This seemed to be a good deal for a stay there.

Just before checking out in the morning, room service came by and told them that the manager had given them a $5 discount. He returned the same to them. The 3 guys each took $1 back and tipped the room service guy with the remaining $2. And off they went headed back home.

Now let's go back and calculate the equation!!!
Each guy 1st spent $10, but took back $1 later. So in the end each spent $9. So 3x9=27. And the room service guy was tipped $2. So 27+2=29.
Hmmmm!!! $29 has been accounted for. So where is that remaining 1 dollar???

Math!!! Simple, but sometimes, complicated, or shall we say, Mind Boggling!!!