So what happened to the extra dollar?

Question

3 friends go the a hotel and it's $30/night.  But the manager said they over paid so asked the bell boy to take $5 back to them.  On the way, he takes $2 for himself and refunds the $3.  Each friend ends up paying $9 instead of $10 which makes it $27 total plus the $2 that the bell boy has makes it $29.  It should add up to $30. So what happened to the extra dollar?

Answer 1

No missing dollar

Hotel,     $25

Guest 1, $1

Guest 2, $1

Guest 3, $1

Boy       $2

Answer 2

These are good answers.

 

Think of it this way.

 

They should have paid 25/3 = 8.33 and 1/3 cents each.

 

They paid $10 each.

 

That is a difference of 1.66 and 2/3 cents each.

 

In terms of fractions: they should have paid 8 and 1/3

but paid 10.  So they over paid by 1 and 2/3 each.

 

 

1 and 2/3 x 3 = 5/3 * 3 = 5 which is what the bellboy

had before he took $2 from it.

 

Did he get fired?