Impossible riddle

A fleet-footed black man stole it. John McCain saw him. Might have been Usain Bolt.

But seriously...

They payed 27. The bellboy kept 2. The hotel got 25. Not that hard.

You added wrong, each person paid $9 for $27 total, two of which went to the cashier. $27 minus the $2 "tip" is $25, which went toward the room.

Step 1:

Person 1: $10

Person 2: $10

Person 3: $10

Hotel: $0

Total: $30

Step 2:

Person 1: $0

Person 2: $0

Person 3: $0

Hotel: $30

Total: $30

Step 3:

Person 1: $1

Person 2: $1

Person 3: $1

Hotel: $27 (actual bill was $25, guy pockets $2)

Total: $30

please excuse my dear aunt sally

Actually, if the starting total is in fact $30, then they each paid $8.33 to start ($25 / 3 = $8.33). They each get a buck back, which totals $9.33. $9.33 X 3 = $28. $28 + $2 that was pocketed = $30.

First, each person did not pay $9 they paid 35/3 = 11.67 - 1 = $ 10.67.

Secondly, the logic (your signs are backwards) is off because you don't add back the $2 to reach 34 you subtract it to reach $30.

Thats like saying each payed 11.67 for a total of $35 plus the extra $5 the worker was suppose to give them equals $40. Where did the extra $40 comes from.

not impossible wrote:

First, each person did not pay $9 they paid 35/3 = 11.67 - 1 = $ 10.67.

Secondly, the logic (your signs are backwards) is off because you don't add back the $2 to reach 34 you subtract it to reach $30.

Thats like saying each payed 11.67 for a total of $35 plus the extra $5 the worker was suppose to give them equals $40. Where did the extra $40 comes from.

You've really figured it out, haven't you?

database wrote:

Step 1:

Person 1: $10

Person 2: $10

Person 3: $10

Hotel: $0

Total: $30

Step 2:

Person 1: $0

Person 2: $0

Person 3: $0

Hotel: $30

Total: $30

Step 3:

Person 1: $1

Person 2: $1

Person 3: $1

Hotel: $27 (actual bill was $25, guy pockets $2)

Total: $30

They each paid $5 TOO MUCH. Should read:

Step 1:

Person 1: 0

Person 2: 0

Person 3: 0

Hotel: $0

Worker: $0

Total: $0

Step 2:

Person 1: $-11.66

Person 2: $-11.66

Person 3: $-11.66

Hotel: $30

Worker: $5

Total: $0

Step 3:

Person 1: $-10.66

Person 2: $-10.66

Person 3: $-10.66

Hotel: $30

Worker: $2

Total: $0

johnny chimpo wrote:

Actually, if the starting total is in fact $30, then they each paid $8.33 to start ($25 / 3 = $8.33). They each get a buck back, which totals $9.33. $9.33 X 3 = $28. $28 + $2 that was pocketed = $30.

No, if they paid $8.33 and got a dollar back, they'd have paid $7.33 not $9.33. Instead they paid $10 to begin with, $8.33 of each went to the room, $0.66 to the bellhop, and since they get the last dollar back, the total bill is $9 each.

Wow mis-read the question. same logic applies...

Step 1:

Person 1: 0

Person 2: 0

Person 3: 0

Hotel: $0

Worker: $0

Total: $0

Step 2:

Person 1: $-10

Person 2: $-10

Person 3: $-10

Hotel: $25

Worker: $5

Total: $0

Step 3:

Person 1: $-9

Person 2: $-9

Person 3: $-9

Hotel: $25

Worker: $2

Total: $0

pjb wrote:

No, if they paid $8.33 and got a dollar back, they'd have paid $7.33 not $9.33. Instead they paid $10 to begin with, $8.33 of each went to the room, $0.66 to the bellhop, and since they get the last dollar back, the total bill is $9 each.

Add in thirds of a cent where applicable.

they each paid 9 dollars to cover the hotel and the tip, which is the 25+2, and they have 3 in their pockets bringing the total to 30

quite impossible, more like moronic math than a riddle

pjb wrote:

No, if they paid $8.33 and got a dollar back, they'd have paid $7.33 not $9.33. Instead they paid $10 to begin with, $8.33 of each went to the room, $0.66 to the bellhop, and since they get the last dollar back, the total bill is $9 each.

What? No, they originally paid $8.33, ($30 - $5 = $25. $25 / 3 = $8.33). They then got the dollar back for a total of $9.33. $9.33 X 3 = $28. $28 +2 = $30.

This never was hard and certainly isn't impossible. The people paid $30 out to the cashier. At that point, the people have $0 and the worker has $0. That totals $30. When the worker brings the $5 down the hall, the cashier has $25, the worker has $5 and the people have zero. That totals $30. When he gives them each $1, the cashier has $25, the people have $3 and the worker has $2. That also totals $30. Each person is out $9, totalling $27. The cashier has $25, the worker has the other two of it. The other three is in their hands.

This "riddle" has you double counting the $2, because it is already part of the $27 paid and then it has you unnecessarily adding $2 to it, to supposedly come up "one short." Avoid the unnecessary double counting of the $2 and just look at the three dollar bills you have in your hands. You each paid $9 of your original $10 and have $1 of your original $10.

Do you not read other replies before responding?

The airplane DOES NOT take off!!!

buttmoose wrote:

The airplane DOES NOT take off!!!

winner!

Sorry, but on Mythbusters, both the model airplane AND the real sized one took off.

Author: kartelite

Subject: RE: Impossible riddle

Message:

Do you not read other replies before responding?

Yes, at least one of them was incorrect and others were correct, but partial. I don't remember now, but I may have taken awhile to complete the post after starting it, as I was also working at the time, so others may have gotten their responses in while mine was pending.

Even so, I do think it's good for the people who were confused by this to have more than one statement of the solution. Different ways of saying something help different people understand it.

It's funny because some topics languish for hours or days, others get a flurry in several minutes. I do try to be helpful when I can. This time, I was redundant. Oh well.

Enjoy your running.