# If any one could solve this problem

Where did the one rupee go?

Suppose Tom and Harry have 30 lemons each. Tom sells at the rate of 3 lemons for Rs. 1 and Harry sells at the rate of 2 lemons for Rs. 1. So in the end Tom earns 30 / 3 * 1= 10 Rupees and Harry earns 30 / 2 * 1 = 15 Rupees. So total of 10 + 15 = 25 Rs for 30 + 30 = 60 lemons.

One day Tom leaves out leaving all lemons to Harry. So Harry sells 3 + 2 = 5 lemons for 1 + 1 = 2 rupees. So in the end Harry sells 60/5 * 2 = 12 * 2 = 24 rupees.

So there comes out a difference of 1 rupee. So where did that one rupee go?

Note by Praveen Rajput
4 years ago

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There is a difference between the two ways of selling the lemons:

1. One person sells lemons at the rate of 5 lemon for Rs. 2

2. One person sells lemons at the rate of 3 lemons for Rs.1, then the next 2 lemons for Rs.1, then the next 3 lemons for Rs. 1 and so on.

Suppose there are 8 lemons. If the one sells them at the rate of 5 lemons for Rs. 2. then the total cost you will charge for the lemons is $\frac 25 * 8=3.2$ rupees.

But if you sell them same as the second way. Then you will get $1+1+1=3$ rupees for 8 lemons.

So where did Rs $0.2$ go?

- 4 years ago

Yeah you are right because there are two other way of selling mentioned above which has a really big difference.

- 4 years ago

yes, this problem was asked by my maths teacher to me when I was in the 4th grade and doing maths great, but the question baffled me for years and still has, we are selling the same thing to same cost but is it possible that it gives different answers

- 4 years ago

No rupee is lost. With this pairinrg 2 & 3 for2rs for 30 minimum is 24. It is # of turns of small # in pair the item is sold. One can gain 1-5 rs more by increasing times of smal # in pairing keeping rate constant using following way. A Sell 20 (2 for 1rs):20 & 40(5 for 2):16 Total 26rs. B Sell 20(5for2):8 & 40(2for1)::20 Total 28rs. C 60(2for1):30& 0(5for2):0 Total 30rs. This is used as marketing tacticts for max profit.

- 4 years ago

I think the last step( i.e. after tom leaving all lemons to Harry) is wrong. You need to do the individual calculation because the rates of lemons are different( Rs.1 for 2 lemons and rs.1 for 3 lemons.). You cannot just add up like that.

- 4 years ago