Whole Truth about Whole numbers

Question

Julia, Jay, and Pierre go out to eat. The total bill is $45 including the tip.They decide to split the bill evenly, so each person owes $15. Jay wants to put the total on a credit card and get cash or checks from the others. Pierre has only one check, three $1 bills, and a $5 bill. Julia has only a $10 bill and a $20 bill. Explain how the three can settle among themselves so that the waiter has to take only Jay's credit card for the total amount (and so that no one owes anything). Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

Jay needs to get $30 in combined cash and checks from the other two. If Julia gives Jay her $20 and Pierre writes him a check for $10, Jay is now set. Now Pierre needs only give Julia his $5 bill and both of them have a net outlay of $15 each.