A little brain teaser

[LSN_Blog11]

Three people check into a hotel. They pay $30 to the manager and go to their room. The manager suddenly remembers that the room rate is $25 and gives $5 to the assistant to return to the people. On the way to the room the assistant thinks that $5 would be difficult to share with three people so he pockets $2 and gives $1 to each person. Now each person paid $10 and got back $1. So they paid $9 each, totalling $27. The bellboy has $2, totalling $29. Where is the missing $1?

[Frigidus]

Three people check into a hotel. They pay $30 to the manager and go to their room. The manager suddenly remembers that the room rate is $25 and gives $5 to the assistant to return to the people. On the way to the room the assistant thinks that $5 would be difficult to share with three people so he pockets $2 and gives $1 to each person. Now each person paid $10 and got back $1. So they paid $9 each, totalling $27. The bellboy has $2, totalling $29. Where is the missing $1?

The key is at the end. They each paid $9, yes, but you would subtract the bellboy's money rather than add it, bringing the remaining total to the $25 the hotel received.

I swear I've been asked this somewhere around 5 times, and I couldn't wrap my mind around it until now.

[LSN_Blog11]

Three people check into a hotel. They pay $30 to the manager and go to their room. The manager suddenly remembers that the room rate is $25 and gives $5 to the assistant to return to the people. On the way to the room the assistant thinks that $5 would be difficult to share with three people so he pockets $2 and gives $1 to each person. Now each person paid $10 and got back $1. So they paid $9 each, totalling $27. The bellboy has $2, totalling $29. Where is the missing $1?

The key is at the end. They each paid $9, yes, but you would subtract the bellboy's money rather than add it, bringing the remaining total to the $25 the hotel received.

I swear I've been asked this somewhere around 5 times, and I couldn't wrap my mind around it until now.

haha good one sir. When i saw that first i couldn't figure it out myself. it's a trick question.