The Correct Answer Is $100!
The shopkeeper's total loss is $100: $70 worth of merchandise and $30 in cash.
Here's the step-by-step explanation.
Step 1: The Man Steals $100
At the beginning, the thief takes $100 from the register.
The shopkeeper is now missing $100 in cash.
Step 2: The Thief Uses the Same $100 to Pay
The man returns to the shop and uses that same $100 bill to purchase $70 worth of merchandise.
Although the shopkeeper accepts the bill as payment, it is the original money taken from the register. The bill has now returned to the shopkeeper.
Step 3: The Shopkeeper Gives $30 in Change
Because the merchandise costs $70 and the man pays with $100, the shopkeeper gives him $30 in change.
The thief leaves with $70 worth of goods and $30 in cash.
Step 4: Calculate the Total Loss
At the end of the transaction, the shopkeeper has the original $100 bill back in the register.
However, the shopkeeper has given away:
Merchandise: $70
Cash change: $30
Add those amounts together:
$70 + $30 = $100
Therefore, the shopkeeper's total economic loss is $100.
Why Do So Many People Get This Riddle Wrong?
The confusion comes from counting the stolen $100 bill as a separate final loss, even though the same bill returns to the register during the purchase.
Some people add $100 + $70 + $30 and conclude that the loss is $200. Others count the stolen money and the merchandise separately, overlooking the fact that the original bill was used to pay for the goods.
The easiest way to solve this puzzle is to look at the final result rather than adding every amount mentioned in the story.
At the end:
The shopkeeper has recovered the $100 bill.
The shopkeeper has lost $70 worth of merchandise.
The shopkeeper has paid out $30 in change.
The total loss is $100, not $200.
The Simple Trick to Remember
When solving money riddles, compare what you had at the beginning with what you have at the end.
Don't count the same money twice just because it changes hands during the story.
In this puzzle, the original $100 bill returns to the register. The actual loss comes from the merchandise and the change given to the thief.
Final Answer: $100
This classic money riddle is a great reminder that the way you calculate a problem matters just as much as the numbers themselves.
The shopkeeper loses $70 in merchandise and $30 in cash, for a total loss of $100.
Now it's your turn!
Did you get the correct answer on your first try, or did this brain teaser trick you?
Share your answer in the comments and challenge your friends to solve the $100 shop riddle without looking at the explanation!