Solution
There is no missing dollar!
The first way to look at it is from the men's perspective. Each man spent $9 to pay for the hotel room, which totals $27. The bellboy kept $2, meaning that only $25 of this money went to the hotel. The other $3 is accounted for by the $1/person refund that the bellboy returned to the men. $25 + $2 + $3 = $30... which means there is no missing dollar!
Another way to look at it is from the hotel's perspective. The hotel received $30 initially, then returned $5. Of that $5, $2 was pocketed by the bellboy and $3 was returned to the men. There is still no missing dollar!
There is no missing dollar!
The first way to look at it is from the men's perspective. Each man spent $9 to pay for the hotel room, which totals $27. The bellboy kept $2, meaning that only $25 of this money went to the hotel. The other $3 is accounted for by the $1/person refund that the bellboy returned to the men. $25 + $2 + $3 = $30... which means there is no missing dollar!
Another way to look at it is from the hotel's perspective. The hotel received $30 initially, then returned $5. Of that $5, $2 was pocketed by the bellboy and $3 was returned to the men. There is still no missing dollar!