Math problem
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 7:16 am
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 = $29.
To me, this is further evidence as to why mathmatics is fundamentally flawed and should be scrapped in schools in favour of something usefull like origami"
"This one is baffling me, and may cause some debate. Ill Americanise it for you lot (because I dont get the chance to use the '$' 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"
