Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

Three men in a cafe order a meal the total cost of which is \$15. They each contribute \$5. The waiter takes the money to the chef who recognizes the three as friends and asks the waiter to return \$5 to the men. The waiter is not only poor at mathematics but dishonest and instead of going to the trouble of splitting the \$5 between the three he simply gives them \$1 each and pockets the remaining \$2 for himself. Now, each of the men effectively paid \$4, the total paid is therefore \$12. Add the \$2 in the waiters pocket and this comes to \$14.....where has the other \$1 gone from the original \$15?

  1. Wrong Question
  2. It does not make sense to add what was paid by the men (\$12) to what was received from that payment by the waiter (\$2)
  3. The waiter didnt return $3

  4. The payments should not equal the receipts.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The riddle creates a false accounting premise. The \$12 paid includes the \$2 pocketed by the waiter. You should subtract the $2 from $12 to get the \$10 the chef kept, or add the \$3 returned to get $15.

Keep practicing — related questions