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Old Tue Mar 24, 2009, 08:13am
Raymond Raymond is offline
Courageous When Prudent
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Posts: 14,881
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbyron View Post
Reminds me of the "29" puzzle. Three guys are traveling and want to get a hotel room together to save money. The manager says "30, please" and each one ponies up 10.

Later, the manager realizes he made a mistake, and that the rate is only 25. So he gives 5 ones to the bellboy with instructions to give it to the three guys.

On his way to their room, the bellboy thinks, "They can't divide this money by 3, so I'll keep 2 and give them 3 back." He does so, and the guys are grateful for the rebate.

Here's the problem: the three guys have now paid 10 - 1 = 9 each, which is a total of 27. The bellboy kept 2, which makes 29. What happened to the other 1?
The other $2 is what takes you from 27 to 25...They paid $27 (3x$9) for a $25 room, so the other $2 is what gets them from $25 to $27. The $2 the bellboy kept is part of the 3x$9, not separate.
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