Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Where did the dollar go?

I've never been much good at managing money. [If you were, we wouldn't have to accept advertising on this blog! Ed.] But most of the time I can keep track of how much I owe to whom. So I'm thoroughly annoyed not to be able to solve the following puzzle, passed along through my old Zimbo friend CZ.

You saw a shirt in a shop on sale for $97. Being January, you naturally did not have money, so you borrowed $50 from your mom, and another $50 from your dad, making a total of $100. You bought the shirt for $97 and got $3 change. [Would that be in three bills or just one? Ed.]

From the change, you repaid your mom $1 and your dad $1, and you kept $1 for yourself. Now you owe your mom $49 and your dad $49. So...$49 plus another $49 equals $98, right? Which, added to the other $1 you pocketed, makes a total of $99. So where did the missing buck go?

Answers to Walt by e-mail please. The person who submits the first correct solution will be recommended by Walt to President O'Bama (if he gets re-elected) for Secretary of the Treasury in the new administration.

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