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$99
A bank customer had $100 in his account. He then made 6 withdrawals, totaling $100. He kept a record of these withdrawals, and the balance remaining in the account, as follows:
Withdrawals........Balance Left
$50...................$50
$25...................$25
$10...................$15
$8.....................$7
$5.....................$2
$2.....................$0
___________________
$100..................$99
When he added up the columns as above, he assumed that he must owe $1 to the bank. Was he right?
Withdrawals........Balance Left
$50...................$50
$25...................$25
$10...................$15
$8.....................$7
$5.....................$2
$2.....................$0
___________________
$100..................$99
When he added up the columns as above, he assumed that he must owe $1 to the bank. Was he right?
Answer
There is no reason whatever why the customer's original deposit of $100 should equal the total of the balances left after each withdrawal. The total of withdrawals in the left-hand column must always equal $100, but is purely coincidence that the total of the right-hand column is close to $100.Hide Answer Show Answer
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Comments
this is a variation on a rather worn trick. It's just adding up insignificant numbers.
i dont get it...
If you don't get it, look at this scenario with only 2 withdrawals:
Withdrawals........Balance Left
$50.................$50
$50.................$0
___________________
$100................$50
Would you expect $100 = $50 ?
Withdrawals........Balance Left
$50.................$50
$50.................$0
___________________
$100................$50
Would you expect $100 = $50 ?
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