A simple 3rd grade math problem

[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.