by Dave Youngs
This month the Puzzle Corner presents a fascinating conundrum (an intricate problem or puzzle). A thesaurus lists the following synonyms for conundrum: enigma, bewilderment, and mystery --all apt descriptions of the activity that follows.
Cab Conundrum is a modification of a brain teaser that has been around for many years, the Hotel Problem. In the original version of this mathematical paradox, three men pay $10 each for a $30 hotel room. Later, they receive a $5 refund. Because they cannot easily split the $5, they each keep $1 and give the bellboy a $2 tip. Thus, each man's share of the room is $9. The $9 multiplied by three is $27. When the $2 tip is added the total is $29. The conundrum comes in determining what happened to the missing dollar.
The activity this month is identical to the above paradox except for the story that sets it in motion. It is every bit as bewildering and perplexing as the original Hotel Problem and should both puzzle and delight those who try to explain it.
This puzzle has always been one of my students' favorites. I hope that your students find it as intriguing as mine have.