To understand the overall financial impact of this transaction, we need to consider both the sale and the change given:
The store received 100butthengaveaway100 but then gave away 100butthengaveaway110.
Therefore, the net cash flow for the store from this transaction is:
Net Cash Flow=Cash Received−Cash Given=100−110=−10\text{Net Cash Flow} = \text{Cash Received} – \text{Cash Given} = 100 – 110 = -10Net Cash Flow=Cash Received−Cash Given=100−110=−10
This indicates that the store has lost $10 in cash.
Step 4: The Value of the Product
Now, it’s crucial to consider that the customer also took the product, which has a value of $100. This means we need to factor in the cost of the product to determine the total loss to the store:
The store lost $10 in cash.
The store also lost the $100 product.
Total Loss Calculation
To calculate the total loss:
Cash loss: $10
Value of the product: $100
Thus, the total loss can be expressed as:
Total Loss=Cash Loss+Value of Product=10+100=110\text{Total Loss} = \text{Cash Loss} + \text{Value of Product} = 10 + 100 = 110Total Loss=Cash Loss+Value of Product=10+100=110
So, the store’s total loss from this transaction amounts to $110.
The Trick Behind the Teaser
This brain teaser plays on the simplicity of the situation while hiding the complexity of what constitutes a loss. Many people might initially jump to the conclusion that the store only lost $10 due to the error in change. However, by considering the value of the product taken by the customer, it becomes clear that the total loss is significantly higher.
