The Waiter

Three men in a cafe order a meal the total cost of which is $15. They each contribute $5. The waiter takes the money to the chef who recognises the three as friends and asks the waiter to return $5 to the men.

The waiter is not only poor at mathematics but dishonest and instead of going to the trouble of splitting the $5 between the three he simply gives them $1 each and pockets the remaining $2 for himself.

Now, each of the men effectively paid $4, the total paid is therefore $12. Add the $2 in the waiters pocket and this comes to $14. Where has the other $1 gone from the original $15?




Similar Riddles

Count the number of triangles in the picture below:

Counting You Should Know

Asked by Neha on 16 Jul 2024


I am Huge on Sunday and Saturday.
I am small from Tuesday to Thursday.
I do not exist on Monday and Friday.
Who am I?

Asked by Neha on 25 Mar 2026

As shown in the image, the nine Dogs are square fenced. By constructing just two square fences can you make sure that two Dogs cannot meet each other without crossing the fence?

Fence the Fencing

Asked by Neha on 09 Mar 2021


There is a place where if I stand up straight, I will still be considered sideways.

Asked by Neha on 05 May 2025

What goes through cities and fields, but never moves?

Asked by Neha on 10 Mar 2025

That attorney is my brother, testified the accountant.

But the attorney testified he didn't have a brother.

Who is lying?

Asked by Neha on 14 Dec 2020


I am a normal creature, but I have five hands. I can even have more but even then I will be considered normal.

Who am I?

Asked by Neha on 26 Dec 2024

Can you decipher these quotes by Albert Einstein?
Blf xzm mvevi hloev z kilyovn lm gsv ovevo lm dsrxs rg dzh xivzgvw.

Asked by Neha on 12 Jun 2024

A man was convicted of a minor offence in Akbar court. Akbar decided to give him a chance. He asked him to give a statement. If the statement is true, he will be killed by lions and if it is false, he will be killed by trampling of wild elephants.

The convicted person requested help from Birbal and since the crime was not a big one, Birbal decided to help him. Whatever Birbal suggested impressed Kabir and he let the convicted person go.

What did Birbal suggest to the person?

Asked by Neha on 10 May 2021


All of the flowers I have are orchids except two. All of the flowers I have are hibiscuses except two. All of the flowers I have are roses except two.

Can you tell me how many flowers I have?

Asked by Neha on 28 Feb 2025

Hot Articles

Amazing Facts

Word ladder puzzle

The word ladder puzzle was invented by Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.