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Hardest question ever

You saw a shirt for $97. You didn't have the cash, so you borrowed $50 from your mum and $50 from your dad = $100. You bought the shirt, and had $3 change. You gave your dad $1 and your mum $1 and kept the other $1 for yourself. Now you owe your mum $49 and your dad $49. 49+49 = 98 + your $1 = 99. Where is the missing $1?

August 15, 2011

16 Comments • Newest first

Cheezzydude

Why would I buy a shirt for $97?

Also, you subtract $1 from the $98, not add it.

Reply August 15, 2011
HolyMythos

[quote=iAndykins]And this is why we take Math classes. Clearly people can't do simple math.[/quote]

The problem isn't really 100% math. Since the question gives you a math equation, we try to figure out where the problem is, because we assume that the equation is correct. Sure, you need to know math to figure out how to solve the problem, but it's not [b]all[/b] about math.

Reply August 15, 2011
iMelXP

This is like the elevator question, over-thought and to confuse your brain.

Reply August 15, 2011
iAndykins

And this is why we take Math classes. Clearly people can't do simple math.

Reply August 15, 2011
ichigox3

just to get this out of my head -_- IT WENT TO THE SHIRT!

Reply August 15, 2011
HolyMythos

[quote=How2Mob]lmfao I went over that like 5 times in my head and I got confused. Answer please?[/quote]

Let's name the people "A, B, C", the bellhop "D" and the hotel "H".
Each man has $10.
A, B, C = $10 (each)
D, H = $0

Room is $30
A, B, C, D = $0
H = $30

Bellhop returns $5 to the room from the Hotel because the room is actually $25.
A, B, C = $0
D = $5
H = $25

Bellhop gives each man $1, keeping $2 for himself.
A = $1
B = $1
C = $1
D = $2
H = $25

Add it up; $30.

The problem is that I say "If each man paid $9, and the bellhop kept two, 9+9+9+2=29?"
You instantly think that the amount of money each person had should add up to $30, but this is not true. Why?

The $9 for each man is money spent. This means all of the men spent a total of $27. Now, when I add the $2, I should have subtracted. $27 - $2 = $25, which is the total spent. But why subtract the two? Because the bellhop [b]kept[/b] the $2.

So back to the beginning; $9 + $9 + $9 = $27 - $25 spent on the hotel = $2; kept by the bellhop.

Reply August 15, 2011
How2Mob

[quote=HolyMythos]You enter a hotel with your two friends and get a room. The price is $30. You each give up $10. At your room, the bellhop returns, stating the room was actually only $25. He gives a dollar back to each person and agrees to keep $2 as tip. Since each person only paid $9, and the bellhop kept $2, that's $29. Where's the extra dollar?

Point being, this has been done hundreds of times, and each time everyone fails to do math.[/quote]

lmfao I went over that like 5 times in my head and I got confused. Answer please?
EDIT: nevermind I got it, I didn't look at the problem carefully enough.

Reply August 15, 2011 - edited
Aryls

You used $48.50 from each of them (not $48, as you say), you gave them back $1, so it's $49.50+$49.50+$1=$100.
Right?

Reply August 15, 2011 - edited
How2Mob

Who the hell buys a shirt for $97?

Reply August 15, 2011 - edited
HolyMythos

You enter a hotel with your two friends and get a room. The price is $30. You each give up $10. At your room, the bellhop returns, stating the room was actually only $25. He gives a dollar back to each person and agrees to keep $2 as tip. Since each person only paid $9, and the bellhop kept $2, that's $29. Where's the extra dollar?

Point being, this has been done hundreds of times, and each time everyone fails to do math.

Reply August 15, 2011 - edited
Flametokay

Unless it's like a shirt made out of dragon skin and like bald eagle fur, I would never buy a shirt for 97$.

Reply August 15, 2011 - edited
HolyMythos

49 + 49 = $98.
You have $1.

$98 - $1 = $97, price of the shirt.

Reply August 15, 2011 - edited
SoggyToast

97 dollars used, 3 dollars leftover

Nothing seems wrong here

Reply August 15, 2011 - edited
TreeFiddy

It's a trick question!
You didn't include tax.
trollface.jpg

Reply August 15, 2011 - edited
KrazyLoopyx

You have the other dollar?

Reply August 15, 2011 - edited
PanguLand

You kept it for yourself.

Reply August 15, 2011 - edited