A simple 3rd grade math problem

[Msmith]

Fax has a garage sale. The cost of the sweater is $18. Fax sells it for $21. A person buys the sweater and gives Fax a $100 bill. Fax goes to his neighbor for change. He gives the buyer $79 back. The next day the neighbor tells Fax that the $100 is faked. Fax gives the neighbor back $100. How much money does Fax lose?

[Scorp]

Ummm 176 dollars?

[Bugeater]

If a 747 is sitting on a conveyor belt...

[-King-]

$97?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Bugeater]

But the answer is $97.

[mlyonsd]

$197.

[BigRichard]

Considering that FAX is a mad genius, he didn't lose a dime. See when he went to his neighbors house he was really just getting his own fake money to give the ass hat that gave him the fake $100. And he also "forgot" to tell said ass hat that the sweater was infected with burning Aids. It was a win win for FAX.

[Kyle DeLexus]

$97

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Msmith

Fax has a garage sale. The cost of the sweater is $18. Fax sells it for $21. A person buys the sweater and gives Fax a $100 bill. Fax goes to his neighbor for change. He gives the buyer $79 back. The next day the neighbor tells Fax that the $100 is faked. Fax gives the neighbor back $100. How much money does Fax lose?

$200, or $197, or "can't quite determine", depending on how you read this.

$100 to the neighbor who he had to give a real $100 in replacement of the fake.

$79 in real money paid to the jerk who passed off the phony bill.

And $18 or $21, the value of the sweater that he's lost without getting a (legitimate) dime for it.

The confusion is that the OP says the "cost" of the sweater is $18 but someone pays $21 for it. The real number depends on what the real value of the sweater is to a legimate buyer paying in real cash. If the real value of teh sweater is $18, then the answer if $197. If $21, then $200. If something else, then $100+$79+[something else]

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

$200, or $197, or "can't quite determine", depending on how you read this.

$100 to the neighbor who he had to give a real $100 in replacement of the fake.

$79 in real money paid to the jerk who passed off the phony bill.

And $18 or $21, the value of the sweater that he's lost without getting a (legitimate) dime for it.

The confusion is that the OP says the "cost" of the sweater is $18 but someone pays $21 for it. The real number depends on what the real value of the sweater is to a legimate buyer paying in real cash. If the real value of teh sweater is $18, then the answer if $197. If $21, then $200. If something else, then $100+$79+[something else]

That money came out of the neighbor's pocket, not FAX's

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

$200, or $197, or "can't quite determine", depending on how you read this.

$100 to the neighbor who he had to give a real $100 in replacement of the fake.

$79 in real money paid to the jerk who passed off the phony bill.

And $18 or $21, the value of the sweater that he's lost without getting a (legitimate) dime for it.

The confusion is that the OP says the "cost" of the sweater is $18 but someone pays $21 for it. The real number depends on what the real value of the sweater is to a legimate buyer paying in real cash. If the real value of teh sweater is $18, then the answer if $197. If $21, then $200. If something else, then $100+$79+[something else]

The first $100 is not FAX's, it's his neighbor's. FAX loses $18 when the guy takes the sweater, but gets $100 from his neigbor. He then gives $79 to the guy. At this point, he is up $3. Once he gives $100 to his neighbor, he is then down $97.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

The first $100 is not FAX's, it's his neighbor's. FAX loses $18 when the guy takes the sweater, but gets $100 from his neigbor. He then gives $79 to the guy. At this point, he is up $3. Once he gives $100 to his neighbor, he is then down $97.

Yep I follow. Math (or logic) fail.

The exchange with the neighbor just a red herring. He gave $100 and got $100, so he's out the $79 plus the value of the sweater. $18 cash out of pocket for that, so $97.

Should've realized that he couldn't have lost more than the amount of the fake bill.

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Yep I follow. Math (or logic) fail.

The exchange with the neighbor just a red herring. He gave $100 and got $100, so he's out the $79 plus the value of the sweater. $18 cash out of pocket for that, so $97.

Should've realized that he couldn't have lost more than the amount of the fake bill.

Well, did he lose the cost of the sweater, or the market value?

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

But did it happen in mid air? Because that would change things I think.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by blaise

Well, did he lose the cost of the sweater, or the market value?

OP isn't perfectly clear: "How much money does Fax lose?"

As Fax's attorney I'd argue market value.

Plus this was clearly a fraudulent and deceptive act, entitling Fax to double or triple damages under consumer protection law. Plus attorneys fees. Fax was counting on that income to help fund his efforts to recover from gastro-intestinal problems that are chronic and ongoing, which were exacerbated by the stress of being robbed as well. Potential emotional damages.

But I digress....