Where did the dollar go?
Aug 27, 2021 10:35:20 #
Three men paid $10.00 each to stay at a hotel. After they left the manager decided he overcharged them and gave $5.00 to the bell hop to return to the men. The bell hop pocketed $2.00 and returned $1.00 to each man. Now 9 times 3 is 27; the bellhop has $2.00. Where is the other dollar?
Aug 27, 2021 10:37:32 #
kkayser wrote:
Three men paid $10.00 each to stay at a hotel. After they left the manager decided he overcharged them and gave $5.00 to the bell hop to return to the men. The bell hop pocketed $2.00 and returned $1.00 to each man. Now 9 times 3 is 27; the bellhop has $2.00. Where is the other dollar?
I remember that from when I was a kid! I won't give away the answer. I think I first heard that on a Boy Scout outing.
Aug 27, 2021 10:46:21 #
kkayser wrote:
Three men paid $10.00 each to stay at a hotel. After they left the manager decided he overcharged them and gave $5.00 to the bell hop to return to the men. The bell hop pocketed $2.00 and returned $1.00 to each man. Now 9 times 3 is 27; the bellhop has $2.00. Where is the other dollar?
I first heard that at age 11. I became a mathematics teacher in NJ pubic schools and told that same "puzzle" to my classes in 1960 - 1998. I'm now 84.
Mark
Aug 27, 2021 10:49:21 #
I answered that back in the 60s, the guy that asked the question threatened to kill me because I figured the answer out, I don't know if he was serious, but I am still alive, BTW he was a Texas Aggie that thought he was smarter than everyone else.
Aug 27, 2021 11:02:28 #
Aug 27, 2021 13:22:58 #
DaveO wrote:
Man! There are a lot of old people here! 
If you're lucky, you'll get old too!
Aug 27, 2021 13:38:37 #
Aug 27, 2021 14:11:49 #
RiJoRi
Loc: Sandy Ridge, NC
Of course, another question is why the manager gave $5 to split between 3 men?
(Ah! It was the night manager, and everyone knows the night is not very bright 🙄)
--Rich
(Ah! It was the night manager, and everyone knows the night is not very bright 🙄)
--Rich
Aug 27, 2021 15:33:41 #
Aug 27, 2021 15:35:07 #
Aug 27, 2021 17:06:28 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
I have no idea what happened to that dollar, but if it was a decent hotel with nice rooms that only charged $9 a night, I'd check in and stay there forever!
Is room service cheap too? How about the mini bar?
Is room service cheap too? How about the mini bar?
Aug 27, 2021 18:30:25 #
I am a math challenged History teacher and I say this is a trick question because there is no "other" dollar.
$30 -$5 = $25 for the room. $1 each to the three guys = $3 and $2 kept by the bellhop.
25+3+2 = the original 30 Or does some secret higher math trump my 1950s learned arithmetic?
A friend who was a math teacher once or at most twice a year used to give out problems to his AP classes that had NO answer as worded.
He was looking to see who would admit they couldn't find an answer, who could explain why there was no answer and who would go through mental gymnastics to come up with an answer.
His results became a subject of conversation in the faculty lounge.
$30 -$5 = $25 for the room. $1 each to the three guys = $3 and $2 kept by the bellhop.
25+3+2 = the original 30 Or does some secret higher math trump my 1950s learned arithmetic?
A friend who was a math teacher once or at most twice a year used to give out problems to his AP classes that had NO answer as worded.
He was looking to see who would admit they couldn't find an answer, who could explain why there was no answer and who would go through mental gymnastics to come up with an answer.
His results became a subject of conversation in the faculty lounge.
Aug 27, 2021 20:45:20 #
Aug 27, 2021 21:30:37 #
robertjerl wrote:
I am a math challenged History teacher and I say t... (show quote)
I think you're right. The "nine times three = 27" is irrelevant. The three individuals only have one dollar apiece, not nine.
Aug 27, 2021 22:39:05 #
markngolf wrote:
I first heard that at age 11. I became a mathematics teacher in NJ pubic schools and told that same "puzzle" to my classes in 1960 - 1998. I'm now 84.
Mark
Mark
hot on my heels, Mark. I never could do "puzzles" still do not do puzzles. I can sew, knit crochet, paint, play piano, I was avery good dancer.........................still do not understand %^&*()_+ puzzles!!!!
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