Bob visited Lucia in Penang, the Tong Sampah Pearl of the Orient, together with his mates Irene and Mini. Upon arrival in Penang, they flagged down a trickshaw, and went their way off to Love Lane.
They checked into the presidential suite with jacuzzi in Lovers’ Inn and Health Spa, for the rate of RM 3000 per night.
As they were too eager to enter the room, they didn’t bother to pay at the counter. Instead, each of them took out RM 1000, paid the amount in cash to Menj, the conscierge who showed them the room, and let the conscierge bring the cash to counter.
At the counter, Lyn the cashier being kind and gracious, decided to offer them a discount. Thus she kept just RM 2500 and gave the remaining RM 500 to Menj, asking him to return it to Bob and company.
Menj thought that there’s no way RM 500 can be divided completely among the three, thus, evil Menj decided to pocket RM 200, and just give back RM 100 to each of Bob, Irene and Mini, and he did just that. Bob and company were very happy that they had a discount, and each of them happily put RM 100 back into their wallet.
Each of Bob, Irene and Mini had forked out RM 1000 and took RM 100 back, meaning that they have paid RM 900 each, or RM 2700 altogether. Add that to the RM 200 that Menj has pocketed without permission, it was still only RM 2900. So the question now, where did the remaining RM 100 go ?
p/s: on the good advice of Bob, wish to add a disclaimer that all names and accounts are purely fictional













Bob, Irene and Mini paid, in net, RM900 each. Of that RM900, however, there is the RM66.67 MENJ took from each. So for that reason, you can’t simply add up RM900*3+RM200 because it is not mathematically correlated.
Comment by Rajan R — Wednesday, August 16th, 2006 @ 3:50 am
If anything, it would be RM900*3-RM200=RM2500, or RM900*3+RM100*3 (the discount each pocketed)-RM66.67*3 (the discount they lost) +RM200=RM3000.
Comment by Rajan R — Wednesday, August 16th, 2006 @ 4:04 am
eh? me slow mind stil blur blur. no understand. never like maths so understandable no understand.
btw shin, heard you were in penang joining in the bus protest in komtar. why you no tell me you coming to penang? if i know you coming to penang, i would have gone for the protest too to meet you.
Comment by lucia — Thursday, August 17th, 2006 @ 5:12 pm
blur
Comment by shenyeeaun — Friday, August 18th, 2006 @ 1:13 am
That’s a good trick question. However, I was laughing at your use of fictional (or not) names. Hope Menj does not come after you for this.
Comment by Adam — Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006 @ 12:02 pm
The solution to the trick here is to realise that the overall cost paid by the 3 guys was RM900 x3 = RM2700/ Even though the hotel took only RM2500 we must remember that the conscierge took RM200 too. Rm2500 + Rm200 = Rm2700/
Comment by Adam — Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006 @ 12:05 pm