Question

THREE FRIENDS WENT ON A TRIP TO THE STRIP OF LAS VEGAS. THE RATES FOR ROOMS IN THE SUMMER ARE USUALLY PRETTY INEXPENSIVE. THE THREE GOT A ROOM AT THE STRATOSPHERE FOR $60(all taxes and Resort fees included), SO THEY EACH PAID $20 PER PERSON AND WENT UP TO THE ROOM. AS THEY WERE UNPACKING, THE BELLHOP KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND TOLD THEM THAT THE FRONT DESK SAID THE ROOM WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE $55. SO HE HAD FIVE ONE DOLLAR BILLS TO GIVE BACK TO ONE OF THE FRIENDS. THAT FRIEND SUGGESTED THAT EACH GET $1, AND THE BELLHOP KEEP THE OTHER $2 AS AS TIP. SO, THAT IS WHAT THEY DID, AND THE BELLHOP LEFT. THEN ONE OF THE OTHER BUDDIES SAID, HOLD ON A MINUTE... WE ALL PAID $19 EACH FOR THE ROOM, SO, 3 X $19 = $57. AND WE GAVE THE BELLHOP $2, WHY DOESN'T IT ADD UP TO $60, SO WHAT'S UP? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MISSING BUCK???

Answer 1

$1 is a missing due to the addition of unrelated amounts.

$(20 - 1)×3 + $2

Can never be equal to

$20 × 3

Explanation:

The statement in a nut-shell is

- The three friends paid $20 each initially, to make $60.

- $1 each was returned to them, so that they reduced the expenses, and paid $19 each, to make $57.

- They tipped a man $2.

WHY IS $57 + $2 ≠ $60?

That was so, because the amounts that were added weren't related.

If their total spending was what they wanted to calculate, it should have included the amount in the receipt of $55 payment received from the hotel.

The right calculation should have been:

$55 payment to the hotel

+

$3 change the three friends received ($1 each)

+

$2 tip they gave.

=

$60