30. Where Is the Missing Dollar? A boy wants to buy a pair of pants that costs $97. He borrows $50 from his father and another $50 from his mother, giving him $100 in total.He pays the store $97 and receives $3 in change. He decides to keep $1 for himself and gives $1 back to each parent. Now he still owes his father $49 and his mother $49.Adding the two debts we get 49 + 49 = $98. The boy also has $1 in his pocket, and 98 + 1 = $99. But he originally borrowed $100. Where did the missing dollar go? Added 22 October 2019 Show Hint Show Solution Hint: Check whether the quantities you are adding belong on the same side of the ledger (debts vs. cash in hand vs. money already spent). Solution: There is no missing dollar; the apparent discrepancy comes from adding amounts that should be compared instead.The boy owes a total of $98 to his parents (49 + 49). The $97 he spent and the $1 he kept make up this $98: 97 + 1 = 98. The $3 in change was already split: $1 to himself and $1 to each parent. The correct accounting is:Money borrowed: $100Money spent on pants: $97Money kept by boy: $1Money returned to parents: $2The $97 (store) + $1 (boy) + $2 (parents) exactly equals the $100 originally borrowed. The mistaken calculation tries to add the boy's $1 to the $98 he still owes, mixing cash on hand with outstanding debt.
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