Ok, it is time for Homework - 48÷2(9+3) = ???

[Brazoo]

Guys, I appreciate you trying. I get that the wording of the problem is doing some hand-waving meant to distract us from the fact that it added it wrong. I knew that before they added the 3 or the 2 the clients didn't pay 9 each - because 25 divided by 9 isn't 3. I probably just lack the ability to see numbers abstractly enough to understand why this is more interesting trying to figure it out beyond that.

When I was a kid I had a magic book that showed if you counted on one hand backwards from 10 (10-9-8-7-6) and added your other hand (5) you'd get 11. And it really irritated me, because adding 5 to 6 just doesn't make sense for adding up your fingers. There's 10 fingers, 5 and 5. I barely passed math the whole time I was in school and need those fingers to count on till this day, so I'll just add up my fingers one-by-one and keep them at 10 so they're useful. Thank you.

[Brue]

The trick is in the wording. It got me, too at first. They each pay $9 because the room is $25 and the "tip" is $2. They each get $1 back. The problem tries to trick you into adding 27+2, instead of 27+3. The $2 is already part of the $27. It's hard to explain.

exactly

[Goblin19]

The trick is in the wording. It got me, too at first. They each pay $9 because the room is $25 and the "tip" is $2. They each get $1 back. The problem tries to trick you into adding 27+2, instead of 27+3. The $2 is already part of the $27. It's hard to explain.

[Brazoo]

everyone who reads the puzzle knows the math is wrong -

the riddle is: Since it is wrong - where and why.

you have identified neither.

how is it that each man paid $9 (and they DID pay $9 - not 8.333)add 2 for the bellhop and come up with 30


the reason the math is wrong is that it does not account for the fact the bell boys $2 (a tip wink wink) really is a tip. so the effective cost of the room really is 27 dollars (25 room cost +2 tip) NOT 30 wherein lies the error - the men split that number three ways 27/3=9

you first have to know what the riddle is in order to solve the riddle.

Ah well, I guess I still don't get the big deal. Adding wrong is adding wrong. I'll go my whole life knowing that 25+2+3=30 and leave it at that, thank you.

[Goblin19]

Right. Now I've got it. They spent $25 on the room, plus the $2 tip, which is part of their cost. Then they got the $3 dollars back. Total $9. I just removed the words and did the math. In other words, the mistake is adding $27+2. You should be adding $27+3.

[Brue]

They didn't pay $9. The room is $25. The men are supposed to get $5 back. At this point, they have each paid $8.33 (25/3) for the room. The bellboy keeps $2 (now $27 total) and gives them back each $1. This means they have now paid $9.33. There is no unaccounted for $1. The total is $30.

incorrect - each guy DID pay 9 dollars. see above explanation

it is that they spent 27 not 30 dollars.

[Goblin19]

They didn't pay $9. The room is $25. The men are supposed to get $5 back. At this point, they have each paid $8.33 (25/3) for the room. The bellboy keeps $2 (now $27 total) and gives them back each $1. This means they have now paid $9.33. There is no unaccounted for $1. The total is $30.

[Brue]

Giving them back a dollar each means they paid $9.33333 (or whatever) each.

8.333 X 3 = $25

$25 + 3 = $28

28 + 2 = 30

There's no "missing" dollar. The question just does the math wrong and hopes you forget to do the math - I guess?

everyone who reads the puzzle knows the math is wrong -

the riddle is: Since it is wrong - where and why.

you have identified neither.

how is it that each man paid $9 (and they DID pay $9 - not 8.333)add 2 for the bellhop and come up with 30


the reason the math is wrong is that it does not account for the fact the bell boys $2 (a tip wink wink) really is a tip. so the effective cost of the room really is 27 dollars (25 room cost +2 tip) NOT 30 wherein lies the error - the men split that number three ways 27/3=9

you first have to know what the riddle is in order to solve the riddle.

[Brazoo]

but they each took 10 bucks out of their pocket - and got 1 bac. no change given or taken

Giving them back a dollar each means they paid $9.33333 (or whatever) each.

8.333 X 3 = $25

$25 + 3 = $28

28 + 2 = 30

There's no "missing" dollar. The question just does the math wrong and hopes you forget to do the math - I guess?

[Brazoo]

I don't get how this is suppose to be a trick, the math is just wrong. $25 doesn't divide equally into 3 and $25 plus $3 is $28.

[Brue]

Right, they didn't pay $9 for the room. They paid $9 and change.

but they each took 10 bucks out of their pocket - and got 1 bac. no change given or taken

[Goblin19]

Right, they didn't pay $9 for the room. They paid $9 and change.

[Brue]

I don't get it, 25 + 3 = 28 not 27.

The 27 does not come from $25 the room cost + $2 for the bellboy. It comes from the balance each gut gave after the refund $9 times 3 guys =27. ( edited to add: though the fact they are the same IS the answer -now that i have given the answer in a later post anyway)

the puzzle is this 3 guys paid 10 bucks (3x10=30) the bell kept 2 (30-2=28) each guy got 1 back so now they are out 9 each (3 guys x 9 bucks = 27 bucks)

so if they each paid 9 dollars (3x9) add the bellboy's 2 and you get 29. where is the last dollar?

[Brazoo]

I don't get it, 25 + 3 = 28 not 27.

[J.B.]

Just for fun...

3 Men check into a motel room. The room cost $30. Each man paid $10. The manager of the motel realized he overcharged the men for their room. The room should have been $25. He gave the bellboy $5 to give back to the men. The bellboy took the money, but on the way thought to himself, "$5 cannot be divided evenly by 3 people." The bellboy then pocketed $2 (as a tip ) and decided to give the men $3 back, each man receiving $1. At this point the room cost each man $9.

$9 x 3 = $27

$27 + $2 (Bellboy pocketted) = $29.

What happened to the last dollar? They originally paid $30 for the room!

There is a boring mathematical explanation for it, but just accept it for what it is.