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# $$\forall \exists \emptyset$$

3 years ago

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This is funny, and yet so true. This is kind of like how it works between hospitals and insurance companies, while you pay the 20% "co-pay" which really works out to nearly 100% of the actual cost. The rest is just money shuffled between hospitals and insurance companies, i.e. hospitals overcharge, and so do the insurance companies on coverage hospitals have to have.

Maybe a better example would be Corporation ABC owning 90% of the stocks of Corporation XYZ, which in turn owns 90% of the stocks in Corporation ABC. Each corporation claims to be worth $1 Billion, because all that stock buying and claims to be worth that much has driven up stock prices. How much of each are actually worth? Let's say each are start-up internet companies with little or no real physical assets. - 3 years ago Log in to reply Heh right?? And the thing is, unless you're a mathematician, you'll never figure it out! I had to resort to classifying the transactions like I did with the 1$ problem in order to figure this out; otherwise, you'll never know! And the one who sells the box always wins! This is how corporations do it, really. Like in CVS, if they give out 20% coupons, they'll make everything "ON SALE" ahead of time (since sale items cannot be couponed) so that you actually pay more, but it looks like you'd pay less.

THIS, right here, is why math education kicks in. You can save lots more money if you know how much you're paying for your goods and services.

- 3 years ago

I recall reading an artricle somwhere that the average American knows very little about finance and investments, and Wall Street guys want to keep it that way.

- 3 years ago

###### #Illuminati

- 3 years ago

The new owner of the box (the one who is not on Brilliant.org) takes out $50 from his wallet, gets$40 and still stays happy.

This is a severe case of satisfaction...:D lol.

- 3 years ago

The person who buys the box loses $10, because in addition to the$30 he uses to buy the box, there is also the $20 that he put into the box. - 3 years ago Log in to reply aw don't spoil the fun This does remind me of a math problem involving drunks at a restaurant, maybe I should post it sometime - 3 years ago Log in to reply @Michael Mendrin Are you talking about the "Where's the Missing$1" problem? A believe I've seen it on B'ant also.

- 3 years ago

Oh, that one's an oldie, but the problem I had in mind is a variation of it. But, yes, that one is the best analogy to the comic strip Muradeli has put up here.

- 3 years ago

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- 3 years ago

No harm to fun intended :)

- 3 years ago