This conundrum comprises of 2 major points.
It comprises of lies because it creates an inexact deduction and
It also comprises of confusion because it combines two unrelated points of view.
The existing problem is then exasperated by creating an inaccurate and totally irrelevant question that cannot be answered.
That question being, WHERE IS THE OTHER RAND?
We then need to isolate the inexact deduction and separate the two unrelated points of view.
By doing this we will realize that this whole problem is actually caused by literature rather than by mathematics!
Let’s dissect this one a bit shall we… J
“3 MEN GO INTO A MOTEL.
THE MAN BEHIND THE DESK SAID THE ROOM IS R30, SO EACH MAN PAID R10 AND WENT TO THE ROOM. A WHILE LATER THE MAN BEHIND THE DESK REALIZED THE ROOM WAS ONLY R25, SO HE SENT THE BELLBOY TO THE 3 GUYS' ROOM WITH R5”
So far there is nothing wrong with the above said statement.
(Except, of course, for the silly “man behind the desk” relying on the proverbially “ever tip seeking bellboy” to deliver the money uneventfully J)
First we isolate the inexact deduction:
ON THE WAY THE BELLBOY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPLIT R5 EVENLY BETWEEN 3 MEN, SO HE GAVE EACH MAN A R1 AND KEPT THE OTHER R2 FOR HIMSELF. THIS MEANT THAT THE 3 MEN EACH PAID R9 FOR THE ROOM, WHICH IS A TOTAL OF R27…
The above statement is not entirely correct!
There is an inexact deduction made here…
Yes…. R9 multiplied by 3 is R27, BUT, R27 is not the price of the room!!!
Because of the R5 rebate, the ROOM (and I emphasize ROOM) cost the 3 men an affective R25!
And what do you know, the bellboy’s stolen R2 plus the rebated R3 plus the hotels price for the ROOM R25 somehow magically results in R30!
No missing Rand!!!
Maybe it’s luck…
So to further illustrate this, we now need to separate the two unrelated points of view:
The first point of view is that of the 3 men.
They initially paid R30 for the ROOM. They received an R3 rebate from the hotel.
Therefore, as far as they are concerned, they only paid R27 for the room.
And as luck will have it, their rebated, R3, plus their affective R27 payment for the room results in a total of R30!
The second point of view is that of the bellboy.
He gave the 3 men R3 and retained R2. (R5 all together)
But we all, including the bellboy, know that the price of the room is R25
Therefore the R5 rebate plus the R25 cost of the room results in R30.
What do you know...? Luck is on our side today!
In conclusion:
Ask an irrelevant question about an incorrectly stated and deduced problem and you’re bound to get nowhere!!!
