Here's the plot:

• Three travelling salesmen checked into the MAZEville Ramada Inn.
• The regular cost of the room is $30. Each man pays $10.
• Manager overcharged them. She sends bellhop to their room with $5 refund.
• Greedy, the bellhop, keeps $2, and gives each man back $1.
• Here's the perplexing puzzle:
  • The three men each paid $9 for the room. That's $27.
  • The bellhop kept $2 as his "tip" but they originally paid $30!
  • Where's the missing dollar?

Hints

• Reread the story. Reread the puzzle. Maybe I phrased something wrong?
• Don't scroll down until you try to figure out the puzzle for yourself first.
• Think about it.
• Look at the numbers.
• Look at the math.
• Don't scroll down until you figure out how I tried to mislead you.
• Hey
• You're
• Peeking
• Okay, Let's look at the situation again.
  • What total amount did the three men end up paying? $27.
  • Where did that money go? It went two places.
  • How much ended up in the cash register?
  • How much ended up in the bellhops pocket?
  • Add those two numbers and what do you get?
  • Here's another way to look at the puzzle:
    • What was the final price for the room?
    • How much was refunded to the three men?
    • How much did the bellhop keep?
    • What does that add up to?
  • Or you could start with what the men ended up paying,
  • Subtract what the bellhop kept,
  • And see what you end up with?
• Did you figure out how I messed up the explanation?
• You don't have to know all my reasons. Just the one you understand best.
• Maybe you'll find a different explanation.
• If you still have any questions, e-mail (webmaster (at) mazes.com).

Copyright 1999 by <www.MAZES.com>. (This material may also be protected by the copyright of another organization if you have retrieved this text through that organization's searchable database. For example, the copy I sent to AOL's Academic Assistance Center is also protected by AOL and AAC copyright.)

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