Brain Teaser!

[sonicflood]

Three friends went out for a meal. When the time came to pay, the bill came to £30. They shared the bill so payed £10 each. However after they had paid, the waiter realised he had charged them £5 too much so he asked the manager what he should do. The manager said to give them the £5 back. But the waiter was by no means a mathematician and couldn't divide 5 by 3. So he decided to take 5 pound coins from the till, give each of the customers one each and then keep two for himself.

Here's the puzzle: If he gave them each £1 back, then they only paid £9 each. 9x3=27. The waiter only kept 2 pound coins, which makes 29. SO WHERE DID THE OTHER POUND GO?!??!?!


It took me ages to figure this out....(and it wasn't me that figured it out.... :o )

 

[ZiSunka]

It's a matter of looking at the problem wrong.

Instead of starting with the 9 pounds, you have to start with thirty. He didn't refund all their money and then only charge them 9 pounds, he started with 30 and refunded 3. Then you have to subtract the two the waiter stole from them.
The problem should look like this:

30
-3
___
27
-2
___
25

 

[Die Kaiserin]

Yes, it is all the matter in which you solve it...Also, the form I saw it in was in three guys renting a hotel room!

 

[* kittie *]

this is w/o looking at the other replies.  let me guess...

nowhere!

30 paid at first

5 "given" back, which should be 25

3 to the customers, which should make it 28

and 2 for himself, which should make it 30

or

9 times 3 equals 27, minus (instead of adding) 2 equals 25 paid.

 

[hiz_child]

This makes my head hurt.