Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site whuxlb.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!whuxlb!eric From: eric@whuxlb.UUCP Newsgroups: net.jokes Subject: Re: Bucks yuks - (nf) Message-ID: <1207@whuxlb.UUCP> Date: Tue, 5-Jul-83 20:54:30 EDT Article-I.D.: whuxlb.1207 Posted: Tue Jul 5 20:54:30 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 7-Jul-83 10:47:58 EDT Sender: eric@whuxlb.UUCP Organization: Bell Labs, Whippany Lines: 46 #R:rocheste:-213900:whuxlb:500028:000:1264 whuxlb!eric Jul 5 20:54:00 1983 /***** whuxlb:net.jokes / rocheste!brown / 7:13 pm Jul 5, 1983*/ Three guys check into a room at hotel, are charged $30. Manager emerges from back when they've gone upstairs, tells desk clerk he's overcharged the guys -- the room's $25. Clerk gives $5 to bellhop to refund. On way up, bellhop decides dividing 5 by 3 is a hassle, and the guys wouldn't be Big Tippers anyway, so he refunds three bucks and keeps two. Now: each of the guys has spent $9, and the bellhop has $2 for a total of $29. Where'd the other dollar go? /* ---------- */ SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!! DON'T READ THE NEXT PAGE IF YOU WANT TO FIGURE THIS OUT YOURSELF!!! The flaw that makes this puzzle so puzzling is that you are not trying to add up to $30, but to $25. The room cost $25, not thirty, remember???? Ok. Each guy originally forks up $10 (3 x 10 = $30). The manager gives back $5, so the total is now $25 for the room. (30 - 5 = $25). The maid gives each man back $1, and keeps $2 for herself ($25 + (3 x 1) + 2 = $30). Now for the confusion... Each guy paid $9, and the maid kept $2, and the room cost $25, right. Ok. (3 x 9 [ for the men ]) - 2 [for the maid] = $25 for the manager. QED Eric Holtman WH 1c-352d, x4890 harpo!whuxlb!eric