Question

A customer in a shoe store bought a pair of shoes that were on sale for $15.00. He gave the salesman a $20.00 bill. Since he did not have change, the salesman went to an adjoining store and asked the lady in charge to give him change. She obligingly gave him a $10.00 bill and two $5.00 bills. The shoe man then returned and gave the customer his shoes and $5.00 change. The customer left.

Up to this point the story is very ordinary, but here is where "the plot thickens."

After the customer left, the lady who gave the salesman the change came into the store and told him that the $20.00 bill was a counterfeit. He looked at the bill, agreed that it was indeed worthless, and immediately repaid her with a good $20.00 bill.

That night, as he was closing the store, the shoe man began thinking about what he had lost in this series of transactions.

What did he lose?

Answer 1

Answer: He lost $35. $15 for the pair of shoes and $20 for having to repay the joined store for the counterfit money.

Explanation:

Answer 2

He lost $5.

Explanation:

When the customer gives him the $20, the salesman does not gain any money because it is fake.

Then, he gets real money summing up to $20. So he gains that, but then gives $5 away. Now he has $15.

Then, the lady tells him the $20 bill is fake, so he must give the lady $20. So, 15 - 20 = -5. He lost $5.