Wee Brain teaser.....

[DBL101]

$20 plus the shoes

He received $50 from his neighbor and gave $50 back. The only other thing that left his store was the $20 change and the shoes.

 

[FireDancer]

The funny part is that I saw your first post (unedited) before I started typing my first post. I was going to reference an agreement to your post, but it had changed by then. So, then I had to draw myself a few pictures to make sure that I still thought I was right. It's that time of the day!

It isn't the first time I talked myself out of a correct answer and won't be the last. At least this time it wasn't for a grade.

 

[crispychicky]

Maybe another way to look at it:

-The woman ends up with a net gain of $50 ($30 worth of shoes and a $20 bill).
- The neighbor shopkeeper ends up with a net $0 (gives shopkeeper $50 for a fake $50, then later gets his real $50 back and returns the fake $50).
- So, if the woman gained $50, that $50 had to have come from the original shopkeeper. He's out a $30 pair of shoes and a $20. He got a worthless fake $50 in return. Shopkeeper => net loss $50

Basic rules of accounting say that it all has to balance. Woman gains $50, the shopkeeper loses $50 and no more. The neighbor is neutral.

 

[Northstar]

Maybe another way to look at it:

-The woman ends up with a net gain of $50 ($30 worth of shoes and a $20 bill).
- The neighbor shopkeeper ends up with a net $0 (gives shopkeeper $50 for a fake $50, then later gets his real $50 back and returns the fake $50).
- So, if the woman gained $50, that $50 had to have come from the original shopkeeper. He's out a $30 pair of shoes and a $20. He got a worthless fake $50 in return. Shopkeeper => net loss $50

Basic rules of accounting say that it all has to balance. Woman gains $50, the shopkeeper loses $50 and no more. The neighbor is neutral.

This was exactly the way I went about thinking about it... how much did the thief get out of it? Because that has to be the shopkeeper's loss.

You approached it from an accounting standpoint. I think I must have a criminal mind, because without thinking about accounting at all, I was looking at it from the thief's point of view!

 

[swimchick1984]

$100, $30 for the shoes, $20 for the change, and the $50 to the other store.

 

[mickeymedic]

Maybe another way to look at it:

-The woman ends up with a net gain of $50 ($30 worth of shoes and a $20 bill).
- The neighbor shopkeeper ends up with a net $0 (gives shopkeeper $50 for a fake $50, then later gets his real $50 back and returns the fake $50).
- So, if the woman gained $50, that $50 had to have come from the original shopkeeper. He's out a $30 pair of shoes and a $20. He got a worthless fake $50 in return. Shopkeeper => net loss $50

Basic rules of accounting say that it all has to balance. Woman gains $50, the shopkeeper loses $50 and no more. The neighbor is neutral.

This makes perfect sense. Thanks!

 

[Amy]

My brain is fried after reading all these replies!! Now I know why I decided against majoring in accounting!

 

[scotlass]

Maybe another way to look at it:

-The woman ends up with a net gain of $50 ($30 worth of shoes and a $20 bill).
- The neighbor shopkeeper ends up with a net $0 (gives shopkeeper $50 for a fake $50, then later gets his real $50 back and returns the fake $50).
- So, if the woman gained $50, that $50 had to have come from the original shopkeeper. He's out a $30 pair of shoes and a $20. He got a worthless fake $50 in return. Shopkeeper => net loss $50

Basic rules of accounting say that it all has to balance. Woman gains $50, the shopkeeper loses $50 and no more. The neighbor is neutral.

 

[LisaR]

Maybe another way to look at it:

-The woman ends up with a net gain of $50 ($30 worth of shoes and a $20 bill).
- The neighbor shopkeeper ends up with a net $0 (gives shopkeeper $50 for a fake $50, then later gets his real $50 back and returns the fake $50).
- So, if the woman gained $50, that $50 had to have come from the original shopkeeper. He's out a $30 pair of shoes and a $20. He got a worthless fake $50 in return. Shopkeeper => net loss $50

Basic rules of accounting say that it all has to balance. Woman gains $50, the shopkeeper loses $50 and no more. The neighbor is neutral.

But, when the shopkeeper returns the original $50 to the neighbor, the shopkeeper was already out the $20 cash that he gave to the customer. So, while he is taking $50 out of his cash register, $30 of that was the neighbors and the shopkeeper had to make up the other $20 out of his own pocket. Clear as mud!

 

[kieras nana]

$50
the $50 between shopkeepers,cancels itself out.so he loses $20 change,to the thief,along with $30 shoes.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

$50
the $50 between shopkeepers,cancels itself out.so he loses $20 change,to the thief,along with $30 shoes.

I agree the $50 past amonst each others cancels.
Its like Hot potato only counts when you stop.

Were they fake or real uGGs?