Truths or Fabrications

Heather told us a story after she got home from work last night. She said it is one of the great “mysteries” of the mathematical world: Three men checked into a motel room and shared the cost of that room. The owner of the motel was out and his son couldn’t remember what the rooms were supposed to cost, so he charged the men $30 which they divided evenly among themselves, each paying $10. When the boy's father returned, he told the boy that the room charge was $25, not $30, and asked him to return the $5 to the men. On the way to the room, the boy realized he couldn’t divide $5 among three men. So he decided to give them each $1 and pocketed the other $2 for himself. As a result, the men paid $27 ($30 less $3 paid to the men) for the room, and the boy had $2, making $29. The question is, what happened to the other $1?

Do you know the answer?

Brent saw the answer right off, but I confess I fell for it. Heather said she’s discussed it with “great mathematicians” who all said it was one of the mysteries of math that proved that math is not as solid as one would think it is. Finally, Brent pointed out that the question posed is not reflective of the $30, but of the $25. You can’t subtract $3 from $30 and then add $2 to find the result. You have to subtract the $2 as well, to come down to $25.

I thought it was so very reflective of the many arguments Satan throws out about the gospel and concepts that are rock solid. He subtracts part and adds part and comes up with totally different answers than the truth. And he would have us all believe his "truth." And it makes a very confusing world. Satan, the Father of Lies, loves confusion and chaos. Those of us who fall for it are mere puppets in his hands. We should all look for the truths and add and add instead of subtracting and adding.