Where's The £1?

Three people check into a hotel.

They pay £30 to the manager and go to their room.

The manager suddenly remembers that the room rate is £25 and gives £5 to the bellboy to return to the people.

On the way to the room the bellboy reasons that £5 would be difficult to share among three people so he pockets £2 and gives £1 to each person.

Now each person paid £10 and got back £1.

So they paid £9 each, totalling £27. The bellboy has £2, totalling £29.

Where is the missing £1?


Ans:

We have to be careful what we are adding together.

Originally, they paid £30, they each received back £1, they now have only paid £27. 
Of this £27, £25 went to the manager for the room and £2 went to the bellboy.