You saw a shirt for $97. You didn’t have the cash so you borrowed $50 from your mom and $50 from your dad. $50+$50=$100. You bought the shirt, and had $3 change. You gave your dad $1 and your mom $1 and kept the other $1 for yourself. Now you owe your mom $49 and your dad $49. $49+$49=$98 + Your $1=$99. Where is the missing $1?

Question

anonymous · Answer

In your pocket! ;P

anonymous · Answer

If this is serious, then it comes down to keeping things straight.  What is truly being defined by saying 49+49+1? Nothing that I can sort out.  If you want to know how much value you owe the folks, its 49+49.  If its how much value do you have in your possesion, its 97+1. 98 equals 98, I believe in accounting that they say your credits match your debits.  If you want to say "how much was borrowed" you could say: 50+50=97+1+1+1.  Mixing amount owed with amount in hand is a problem.