Mathematical puzzle

[AlanHo]

Three guests come into a hotel reception to book rooms for two nights.

The receptionist told them he had only one room available - a large suite which they could share - the room rate being £ 300 for the two nights.

The guests agreed to jointly use the room and each gave the receptionist £100 as their share of the £300.

Some time later the hotel manager told the receptionist that he had over-charged the guests - there was a discount applicable to more than one night’s booking - the correct rate being £150 for one night and £ 250 for two nights. He therefore sent the bell boy up to the room with £ 50 change for the guests.

The bell boy was still smarting after having to hump all three guys luggage up to the room and not being given a tip - so he decided to pocket £ 20 for himself and give only £ 30 to the guests. It would make it easier for them too, thought the lad, because it isn’t easy to share five £10 notes between three people.

The puzzle is this……………

Each guest paid £100 but got £10 back - so their outlay was £90 each….. or £270 collectively.

The bell boy kept £20

We can thus account for only £290 of the £300 - what has happened to the missing £10 ?.

[doug]

There isn't a missing £10. In effect the 3 guests paid £90 each making £270 in total, instead of £250 they should have paid. The receptionist in essence stole £20 from them or £6.66666666666666 each.

You should go and work for Gordon Brown. These sorts of sums are right up his street.

[Andy-2004]

There isn't a missing £10. In effect the 3 guests paid £90 each making £270 in total, instead of £250 they should have paid. The receptionist in essence stole £20 from them or £6.66666666666666 each.

You should go and work for Gordon Brown. These sorts of sums are right up his street.

Well done :)

[Besty]

Indeed