Riddle: A man steals a $100 bill from a store’s register. Then he buys $70 worth of goods at that store using the stolen $100 bill and gets $30 change. How much money did the store lose?
At first glance, this riddle may seem confusing due to the mix of stolen money and a legitimate purchase, but let’s break it down step by step.
Breaking Down the Scenario
- The Theft:
- The man steals $100 from the store’s cash register. At this point, the store has already lost $100 due to the theft.
- The Purchase:
- The man uses the stolen $100 bill to buy $70 worth of goods from the store. While paying with the stolen money, he receives $30 in change from the cashier.
How Much Did the Store Lose?
The store loses money in two main ways:
- Loss from the stolen $100:
- The store already lost $100 when the man stole the bill from the register.
- Loss from the goods and change:
- The man uses the stolen $100 to buy $70 worth of goods, and he is also given $30 in change.
So, the total loss for the store is:
- $70 worth of goods that the store gave to the man.
- $30 in change that the store gave back to the man.
- Total Loss: $70+$30=$100.
Final Calculation:
Although the man originally stole $100, the net loss for the store in this case remains $100, since the $100 bill the man used was already stolen, and the store lost $70 in goods and $30 in cash.
Solution:
The store lost a total of $100.
Key Takeaway:
The riddle plays with the concept of theft and purchase using stolen money, but once the math is broken down, the total loss is clear. Despite the confusion between the stolen money and the goods purchased, the store’s actual financial loss remains the same: $100.
