UNSOLVABLE RIDDLE?!!!!!!!! Need an Answer

The $2 the host kept has already been accounted for in the $27 for the room.

They came in with $30. The hotel got $25, the host got $2, and they each were left with $1.

you are right, there's two ways of looking at this.

1.) The room is 30. the get a 5 discount. 3 given back evenly and 2 the guy kept for himself. which leaves 27. the room is 27 and each guy pays 9 = 27+2 from the hotel guy = 29

2.) The room is 30. they get a 5 discount. 25+ the guy's 2 =27/3=9 and altogether equals 30.

it's all in how you word it. kinda tricky huh.
If nmath is a natural science like they say, then you should be able to do this in addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division.

I think I remember this problem for as long as I know how to add and subtract :wink:

It can be very confusing, especially if worded just right. I've known some people who haven't been able to understand the correct solution from wrong and truly think it's a real paradox.

Why do you add the $2 (guys tip) to the room cost twice?

They were originally charged 30, then they got $3 back, that's 27. These 27 are: 25 for the room plus 2 for the "tip".... You do not add $2 to $27, it's already in it!

Or second way to look at it:
The room was 25, plus $2 tip = $27. That's it. forget the change.

Think of it this way:
You order take out food, and the bill is $25. You want to give delivery guy $2 tip, but you only have $10 bills. So you give him $30, and ask for $3 change. That's basically what was going on there in the hotel.

Here,

The next night two of the men return to stay again. They both give the hotel host $10 each and go to their room. The Host remembers the discount and go up to the room to return 5 dollars for the discount. Realizing he can make a bigger tip, the host keeps $3 and gives back $2 to the men.

Each Man paid $10 - $1 returned = $9

Together the two men paid $18, and add the $3 kept by the Hotel Host,
And you get $21, There, is the missing dollar.

missing dollar
the correct solution is...
$25 was paid to the hotel owner....
$27dollar paid by 3 men... - $2Stole by the other man... = $25 = paid to the hotel owner... ^_^

missing dollar
you have made mistake on making the solution
they paid $30 to the hotel owner but he gave back $5 so it counts $25...
3 men paid $27 but you add the $2 dollars stole by the other person.. but you should subtract for it leaves $25 same amount as they pay to the hotel owner...

Here are the links to the same riddle.

http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=64221&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

or

http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=2519907&highlight=brother#2519907

okay i made a diagram, this is bothering me:
man 1- $10 man 2- $10 man 3- $10 = $30 total ,right.
$30 - $5 discount = $25 now the inn keeper takes only $2 and gives back $3 = $28 total , correct? $25+$3=28 yup. and the shopkeeper kept $2 which keeps the total at $30 there is no missing dollar, just a mishap of calculation.

Nope.

$30 - $5 discount = $25 now the inn keeper takes only $2 and gives back $3 = $27 total ($25 for the room, $2 to the innkeeper)