Math problem

[janswizard]

On another bulletin board I belong to, an Englishman posed the following question - and I have to admit, I can't figure it out either. Any mathemetians here? (Note, he's from England, that's why he makes a comment about the dollar sign).....

"This one is baffling me, and may cause some debate. Ill Americanise it for you lot (because I dont get the chance to use the '$' sign very often)

Three people go to a restaurant and the bill comes to $30. They split the bill, nice and simple, $10 each.

The waiter comes and collects the bill and takes it to the kitchen. The chef says 'hold on a minute, you've overcharged those people, it should be $25, not $30.'

So the waiter heads back to the table with the $5. On the way, he steals $2 and puts it in his pocket, and gives the three people $1 back each, meaning that they have now payed $9 per head.

3 x $9 is $27

the waiter stole $2, and $27 + $2 = $29

WHERES THE OTHER *@&$# DOLLAR GONE?


Let me re-iterate...the waiter headed back with $5...stole $2 and gave back $3...$2 + $3 = $5...the diners in getting $1 payed $9 each...3 x $9 = $27, plus the $2 in the waiters pocket = $29.

To me, this is further evidence as to why mathmatics is fundamentally flawed and should be scrapped in schools in favour of something usefull like origami"

[mf_dolphin]

Your math is fundamentally flawed.
Rest D1 D2 D3 Wait
Bill originally paid $30 30 0 0 0 0
Subtract overcharge from Chef - $ 5 25 0 0 0 5
Waiter keeps "tip"/refunds $1 $2 25 1 1 1 2

As you can see all of the money is acounted for

[stormraiser]

No matter how you slice it, they each paid $10. THe waiter kept 2 -- so 10+10+10-2=28

[janswizard]

I must be slow this morning (sounds like good excuse, LOL).

Give that back to me in English please?