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A Brain Teaser

(10 Posts)
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Aka Sat 28-Jun-14 17:00:11

You see a dress you like for £97.

You don't have enough cash so you borrow £50 each from your mother and father.

£50 + £50 = £100

You pay for the dress and have £3 change so you give you parents back £1 each keep £1 for yourself. You now only owe you parents £49 each.

£49+£49 = £98

Plus the pound you have kept £98+ £1 = £99

WHERE HAS THE OTHER POUND GOT TO?

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Galen Sat 28-Jun-14 17:29:54

The taxman, he seems to get any spare cash

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janerowena Sat 28-Jun-14 17:42:59

I worked it out, Miss! grin

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Galen Sat 28-Jun-14 17:47:14

They charged you interest

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ninathenana Sat 28-Jun-14 18:06:29

DH has worked it out. But he's no good at explaining grin

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Elegran Sat 28-Jun-14 18:38:23

I understand it, but it would take a while to explain.

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Aka Sat 28-Jun-14 23:05:38

Half of 97 is £48.50

So if you hand each parent back £1 that is £49.50 each.

They each lent £50 so take away the £49.50 and that is 50p each.

Twice 50p is £1, which you kept.

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Elegran Sun 29-Jun-14 08:54:21

I have seen other conundrums like this. They depend on getting the change mixed up with the money spent, if the figures are similar then the reader doesn't notice the misdirection.

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ninathenana Sun 29-Jun-14 09:38:47

And the prize goes to Aka that's what DH said but not so succinctly.

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Aka Sun 29-Jun-14 09:46:55

Succinct in my middle name Nina

To be fair it was my brain teaser so I ought to know the answer. And I thought Pedants' Corner is not just about language related topics.

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