Social Media Stumper

[T200]

This has been making its rounds on the social media circuit. Thought I'd post it here for the resident thinkers 


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A man steals a $100 bill from a store's register.

He then buys $70 worth of goods at the same store using the stolen $100 bill and gets $30 change.

How much money did the store lose?

[MightyGiants]

The store loses $30 in cash and $70 in merchandise

[DaveBrown74]

$100.

Store lost $100 when it was stolen. Yes, the thief handed the $100 back to the store, but when that happened the store then lost $70 of merchandise and then handed the guy another $30. So they net lost $100.

[LennG]

It sure does seem TOO easy for it just to be $100.

The stolen $100 was replaced when the merchandise was bought. so they lost $70 in merchandise and $30 in cash.
Again, just seems too normal for it to be right.

So with my thinking, I'll say $200

[MightyGiants]

SPOILER (If you think I know the answer)

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I will lay things out.  Before the con man/thief entered your store, you had (for the sake of simplicity) $130 dollars in your register.   The man takes the $100 dollar bill and leaves the store.  He comes back and grabs $70 of merchandise and uses the stolen $100 bill to pay for the goods. 

Now when he leaves with the goods, you still have the $100 dollar bill in your register (you're short the $30 you gave him in change).   Your store is also less $70 in merchandise. 

[T200]

I was going to lay it out like this:

The store has $100 to start the day. The man steals $100 so the store's balance is at $0. The man gives the $100 back (in return for goods/change) and the store is now at $100 (same as the start of the day). Now the man *takes* $70 of groceries plus $30 in cash. The store is effectively down $100.

[DaveBrown74]

I'm curious - if this is really stumping lots of people, what is the most common wrong answer given? Do people guess that the store has lost nothing?

[MightyGiants]

I was going to lay it out like this:

The store has $100 to start the day. The man steals $100 so the store's balance is at $0. The man gives the $100 back (in return for goods/change) and the store is now at $100 (same as the start of the day). Now the man *takes* $70 of groceries plus $30 in cash. The store is effectively down $100.

How do you give $30 change from a $100 dollar bill 


 

[T200]

I'm curious - if this is really stumping lots of people, what is the most common wrong answer given? Do people guess that the store has lost nothing?

The most common I've seen is $200.

[T200]

How do you give $30 change from a $100 dollar bill 


 

He had extra cash in his sock since he couldn't afford the time-lock safe.