The Missing Dollar Riddle

Puzzle: Three friends check into a hotel room that costs $30. They each pay $10 to the manager. Later, the manager realizes the room was only $25 and gives $5 to the bellboy to return. The bellboy, however, cheats and gives each friend $1 back, keeping $2 for himself. Now each friend has paid $9, totaling $27, plus the $2 the bellboy kept makes $29. Where is the missing dollar?

Answer: There is no missing dollar. The total is still $30. The friends paid $27, of which $25 went to the hotel and $2 to the bellboy. The $9 calculation includes the bellboy’s $2, which is not needed. The $25 payment to the hotel and $3 returned to the friends account for the full $30.