Three guys walk into a hotel after a long day. When they approached the clerk, they were told that there was only a single room left and the cost was $30. So, each guy pitches in $10 and heads up to the room. Now, after they leave the counter, the clerk realizes that the room was only $25 and sends for the bell boy to give them their money back.
On his way to their room, he contemplates how he's going to give three people $5. Instead of giving them the full $5, he decides to give each guy $1 and pocket the remaining $2.
Now that each party member received $1 back, they each essentially paid $9. Now if you multiply 9 by 3 you get $27, plus to the $2 that the bellhop has and that makes $29.
Where's the other dollar?
Now, I've posed this question to many a smart man, and I've heard a few solutions which I'm curious about. The most obvious answer is that it's only the way it's worded makes it seem like the math is imperfect. However, I also heard from my highschool math teacher, when asked this question, that this just proves how imperfect of a science math is. I'm not so inclined to believe that one though.
Thoughts?
On his way to their room, he contemplates how he's going to give three people $5. Instead of giving them the full $5, he decides to give each guy $1 and pocket the remaining $2.
Now that each party member received $1 back, they each essentially paid $9. Now if you multiply 9 by 3 you get $27, plus to the $2 that the bellhop has and that makes $29.
Where's the other dollar?
Now, I've posed this question to many a smart man, and I've heard a few solutions which I'm curious about. The most obvious answer is that it's only the way it's worded makes it seem like the math is imperfect. However, I also heard from my highschool math teacher, when asked this question, that this just proves how imperfect of a science math is. I'm not so inclined to believe that one though.
Thoughts?