62 replies to this topic

[Vishmi]

Great puzzle

[me=1337jk]

Spoiler for math needed

its simple order of operations you would have to do in order so you cant add add multiply u must multiply add if first then add if that explains it

[syddem]

The way this problem is written, confuses people. Each person did not pay nine dollars, they paid ten each. So right now the manager has all thirty dollars. He gives five to the bellboy.
Manager: 25
Bellboy: 5
The Bellboy pockets two dollars and gives each person three.
Manager: 25
Bellboy: 2
Person 1: 1
Person 2: 1
Person 3: 1
Add all that up. 25+2+1+1+1= 30
They try to confuse you my making you think each person paid nine, so the manager has 27, and the three people have nothing. TRICKY!

[Ultrachaud]

If you subtract $2 from the $30 they paid in total,that leaves $28 dollars,that is $25(room paid) plus the $3 the men got back.Hope it's right

[troglodyte712]

This has always been one of my favorite logic puzzle due to its nature of trying to misinform you and make you run with that information. The first time I heard it I spent hours trying to figure out what was up with the 29 dollars before realizing it had nothing to do with the problem, each person paid 9 dollars because the money the bell boy took is factored into their cost.

That is the only way this problem has been explained, that actually made sense to me.

[Bill47]

A great expalnation syddem. This puzzle is a classic case of creating confusion by comparing the wrong peices of information.

[NintendoMad]

You aren't supposed to add the $27 and the $2 as the $2 is meant to be a part of the $27. that $2 is meant to be the 3 mens.

So, they paid $9 each so $27. $25 of this the manager has and $2 the bellboy has. The remaing $3 is the money that they got returned to them and is now back in their possesion.

[NintendoMad]

cool puzzle!!

[masterofmargarita]

yes, this is good! the amount $29 has nothing to do with the problem. here's one way to look at it:

original transaction: $10 + $10 + $10 = $30 - $5 ($3 returned to the customers, $2 pocketed by the bellboy) = $25
post transaction": $9 + $9 + $9 (now that the $3 have been returned to the customers) = $27 -$2 (now in the bellboy's pocket) = $25

the phrasing of the riddle leads you to believe that the equation requires re-adding the $2 to balance the equation by also leading you to believe that the sum you are looking for is $30, when in fact it is $25, the real cost of the room!

too funny!

[OonslaughtoO]

Maybe it will help to put it in math.

$30-$5 = $25 = ($25/3 people)*($5-$2)

= ($25/3 people)*($3)