Mathmatical Riddles - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ks · 03-18-2002, 08:35 PM

So does anyone here know of some mathmatical riddles or some brain teasers in the math department? My cousin, who is a math teacher was looking for some fun ones to give her class and I thought who better to ask than you guys. Just wonderin'....any help much appreciated. Thanks

ks

Bootsy Whoosh · 03-18-2002, 09:29 PM

Here's one:

The Missing Dollar:
3 men walk into a hotel and ask for rooms. The desk clerk regretfully informs them that he only has one room left, but he says that he will allow the men to share the room. The room cost $30, so the men split the cost evenly 3 ways. Later in the evening, the desk cleark realizes that he has made a mistake, and that the cost of the room the men are staying in is only $25. He gives the bell boy 5 one dollar bills, and instructs him to refund the men the $5. The bell boy thinks dividing the money between the 3 men will be a hassle, so he just gives each man back $1, and keeps the remaining $2 for himself. Now each man has spent $9, which makes a total of $27, and the bellboy has $2, which makes a total of $29. So where's the missing dollar?

I'll post the answer a little later since people here might want to try to solve it. ks if you need the answer sooner I can PM it to you. I can probably find some more math riddles later. If I do I'll post 'em here.

F*O*L 1988 · 03-18-2002, 10:24 PM

Oh my gosh, I could never in a million years figure that out! Math is my all time worst subject.

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 03-18-2002, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bootsy Whoosh
Here's one:

The Missing Dollar:
3 men walk into a hotel and ask for rooms. The desk clerk regretfully informs them that he only has one room left, but he says that he will allow the men to share the room. The room cost $30, so the men split the cost evenly 3 ways. Later in the evening, the desk cleark realizes that he has made a mistake, and that the cost of the room the men are staying in is only $25. He gives the bell boy 5 one dollar bills, and instructs him to refund the men the $5. The bell boy thinks dividing the money between the 3 men will be a hassle, so he just gives each man back $1, and keeps the remaining $2 for himself. Now each man has spent $9, which makes a total of $27, and the bellboy has $2, which makes a total of $29. So where's the missing dollar?

I'll post the answer a little later since people here might want to try to solve it. ks if you need the answer sooner I can PM it to you. I can probably find some more math riddles later. If I do I'll post 'em here.

ARGH!! I knew the answer to that and I forgot it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kay Scarpetta · 03-18-2002, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NancyRulz24
ARGH!! I knew the answer to that and I forgot it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So did I!!!!!

Czas na Zywiec · 03-19-2002, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bootsy Whoosh
Here's one:

The Missing Dollar:
3 men walk into a hotel and ask for rooms. The desk clerk regretfully informs them that he only has one room left, but he says that he will allow the men to share the room. The room cost $30, so the men split the cost evenly 3 ways. Later in the evening, the desk cleark realizes that he has made a mistake, and that the cost of the room the men are staying in is only $25. He gives the bell boy 5 one dollar bills, and instructs him to refund the men the $5. The bell boy thinks dividing the money between the 3 men will be a hassle, so he just gives each man back $1, and keeps the remaining $2 for himself. Now each man has spent $9, which makes a total of $27, and the bellboy has $2, which makes a total of $29. So where's the missing dollar?

I'll post the answer a little later since people here might want to try to solve it. ks if you need the answer sooner I can PM it to you. I can probably find some more math riddles later. If I do I'll post 'em here.

I know that one! I just read it, but I'll keep my mouth shut.

<~~Opposite of this.

Ags2000 · 03-19-2002, 04:34 PM

Let me take a stab at this.

Even though they were each given a dollar back, they still had given a total of $30.

At first they all gave $10 for a total of $30. Then they were each given $1 back. So the total that they paid (including the $2 to the bellboy) was $27 or $9 each. The remaining $3 is the money that they got back.

The "extra dollar" never went anywhere, you just had to look at it differently.

D

Bootsy Whoosh · 03-19-2002, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ags2000
Let me take a stab at this.

Even though they were each given a dollar back, they still had given a total of $30.

At first they all gave $10 for a total of $30. Then they were each given $1 back. So the total that they paid (including the $2 to the bellboy) was $27 or $9 each. The remaining $3 is the money that they got back.

The "extra dollar" never went anywhere, you just had to look at it differently.
D

Well your last statement is correct, but I'm not sure if the first part if right. It's not the answer I have, but that doesn't mean yours is wrong. However, thinking it out, I do think it's off the mark, but not by much. It could be right though, and I'm simply confusing myself

lol. At any rate it's not the "official" answer.

Warm & Fuzzy · 03-19-2002, 07:36 PM

Got it! But I cheated....lol. Don;t stroll down and read the rest I have to say! (If you dont; want to)

The facts in this riddle are clear: There is an initial $30 charge. It should have been $25, so $5 must be returned and accounted for. $3 is given to the 3 friends, $2 is kept by the bellhop - there you have the $5. The trick to this riddle is that the addition and subtraction are done at the wrong times to misdirect your thinking - and quite successfully for most. Each of the 3 friends did indeed pay $9, not $10, and as far as the friends are concerned, they paid $27 for the night. But we know that the clerk will tell us that they were charged only $25 and when you add the $3 returned with the $2 kept by the bellhop, you come up with $30.

JoJoJoJoJoJoJoJoJo · 03-19-2002, 08:35 PM

Ok, well, i didn't do math...but here's my answer:

Alright, well the hotel man has 25$
the bell boy has 2$
and the men have 3$

So, the missing dollar isn't really missing

Here's the math, I thi nk?

30-5=25 (discount price)
Take the 5 that was subtracted and give three of it to the men
5-2= 3
Remaing of the 5: 2

25+3+2=30$

Umm..ok, i confused myself w/ the math...but just don't look @ it mathmatically and you'll find it!

Ags2000 · 03-20-2002, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JoJoJoJoJoJoJoJoJo
Ok, well, i didn't do math...but here's my answer:

Alright, well the hotel man has 25$
the bell boy has 2$
and the men have 3$

So, the missing dollar isn't really missing

Here's the math, I thi nk?

30-5=25 (discount price)
Take the 5 that was subtracted and give three of it to the men
5-2= 3
Remaing of the 5: 2

25+3+2=30$

Umm..ok, i confused myself w/ the math...but just don't look @ it mathmatically and you'll find it!

Sounds good to me. I think that's what I was trying to say

D

03-18-2002, 08:35 PM	#1
ks Certifiably Insane Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 21, 2000 Location: I live in my hole... Posts: 5,501	Mathmatical Riddles So does anyone here know of some mathmatical riddles or some brain teasers in the math department? My cousin, who is a math teacher was looking for some fun ones to give her class and I thought who better to ask than you guys. Just wonderin'....any help much appreciated. Thanks ks
	__________________ "Ya gotta have a little faith." C.D. DeLerenzo

03-18-2002, 09:29 PM	#2
Bootsy Whoosh Storms abrewin'... Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: The Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001 Posts: 2,104	Here's one: The Missing Dollar: 3 men walk into a hotel and ask for rooms. The desk clerk regretfully informs them that he only has one room left, but he says that he will allow the men to share the room. The room cost $30, so the men split the cost evenly 3 ways. Later in the evening, the desk cleark realizes that he has made a mistake, and that the cost of the room the men are staying in is only $25. He gives the bell boy 5 one dollar bills, and instructs him to refund the men the $5. The bell boy thinks dividing the money between the 3 men will be a hassle, so he just gives each man back $1, and keeps the remaining $2 for himself. Now each man has spent $9, which makes a total of $27, and the bellboy has $2, which makes a total of $29. So where's the missing dollar? I'll post the answer a little later since people here might want to try to solve it. ks if you need the answer sooner I can PM it to you. I can probably find some more math riddles later. If I do I'll post 'em here.
	__________________ Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words; they become your actions. Watch your actions; they become your habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character for it will become your destiny. - unknown

03-18-2002, 10:24 PM	#3
FOL 1988 Pat the Bat Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 434	Oh my gosh, I could never in a million years figure that out! Math is my all time worst subject.
	__________________ I Love Pat Burrell!

03-19-2002, 04:34 PM	#7
Ags2000 Red 2/13/90 -1/5/06 Forum Veteran Join Date: May 02, 2001 Location: Candyland Posts: 5,544	Let me take a stab at this. Even though they were each given a dollar back, they still had given a total of $30. At first they all gave $10 for a total of $30. Then they were each given $1 back. So the total that they paid (including the $2 to the bellboy) was $27 or $9 each. The remaining $3 is the money that they got back. The "extra dollar" never went anywhere, you just had to look at it differently. D
	__________________ RIP Captain Lyle "Fish Stix" Gordon U.S. Marine Corps So this is how Liberty dies, with thunderous applause. -Senator Padme Amidala Can't wait until the 2016 change.

03-19-2002, 07:36 PM	#9
Warm & Fuzzy Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 02, 2001 Posts: 10,254	Got it! But I cheated....lol. Don;t stroll down and read the rest I have to say! (If you dont; want to) The facts in this riddle are clear: There is an initial $30 charge. It should have been $25, so $5 must be returned and accounted for. $3 is given to the 3 friends, $2 is kept by the bellhop - there you have the $5. The trick to this riddle is that the addition and subtraction are done at the wrong times to misdirect your thinking - and quite successfully for most. Each of the 3 friends did indeed pay $9, not $10, and as far as the friends are concerned, they paid $27 for the night. But we know that the clerk will tell us that they were charged only $25 and when you add the $3 returned with the $2 kept by the bellhop, you come up with $30.
	__________________ "To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world." ~Unknown Last edited by Warm & Fuzzy; 03-19-2002 at 07:40 PM.

03-19-2002, 08:35 PM	#10
JoJoJoJoJoJoJoJoJo A and J Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 31, 2001 Location: .S.C. Posts: 3,070	Ok, well, i didn't do math...but here's my answer: Alright, well the hotel man has 25$ the bell boy has 2$ and the men have 3$ So, the missing dollar isn't really missing Here's the math, I thi nk? 30-5=25 (discount price) Take the 5 that was subtracted and give three of it to the men 5-2= 3 Remaing of the 5: 2 25+3+2=30$ Umm..ok, i confused myself w/ the math...but just don't look @ it mathmatically and you'll find it!
	__________________