-3 young men went to a youth Hostel (Auberge de jeunesse). The receptionist asked them £30 for the room per night. They paid £10 each and went to the room with their baggage. Later on, the receptionist realized that the room costs only £25. He sent them £5 back with the porter.
The porter didn’t know how to split £5 between the blokes. So he gave them one pound each and kept two pounds for himself. This means that each bloke paid £9 for the room that is £27 plus the two pounds the porter had its only £29! That leaves one pound missing.

Taibi, Taibi taibti al Galb wa ryia

They paid 30 pound, he gave them 3 pound back thats £27 (30-3). The porter put £2 in his pocket thats 25 pounds (27-2)! That add up just fine!!
I think you added the two pounds instead of subtracting them from the total paid amount, thats why you get 29 and thats wrong

Hi adds,

Nothing is missing, the way the equation is phrased creates the confusion :
they gave 30£, the room was 25£, they were refunded 5£ (3 + 2 to the receptionist) which makes 30£.

Adds,


1/ they paid : 30 pounds total. the room is only 25 pounds. the receptionist sent back 5 pounds and the bell men gave them one pound each. 30-3= 27-2(for bell man)= 25 pounds for the room.

2/ another way, instead of paying 8.333 pounds each, they paid 9 pounds and the bell men took the extra two pounds.

3/ you can not add the 2pounds to the 27 to make it 29. you have to substract it. the bell man took it, so it is minus 2.

cheers.