[thechat] Math was Mythology was comics
isaac
isaac at members.evolt.org
Thu May 24 02:02:25 CDT 2001
> Sure, but can you explain this?
> (from http://www.karplus.org/eli/puzzles/ )
> $27, and the clerk had $2. $27 + $2 =$29, not $30. The question
> is: where is
> the missing dollar?
it's easy - you're adding the 3 9's, and then adding the 2. you're meant to
subtract the 2 - that gives you the $25 price of the room.
alot of people really struggle to figure it out.
dude one: spends $10, gets $1 - net result= -$9
dude two: spends $10, gets $1 - net result= -$9
dude three: spends $10, gets $1 - net result= -$9
clerk: gets $30 from the guys, loses $25 to manager, returns $3 to the guys
net result= +$2
manager: gets $30 from clerk, gives him $5 to return. net result= +$25
-9
-9
-9
----
-27
+2
+25
----
+27
-27 +27 = 0 = equilibrium.
q.e.f.d.
perhaps your blind faith makes you too trusting of the assertion that there
is a missing dollar? most people try to find the missing dollar. not many
check to see if there is a missing dollar in the first place.
isaac
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