A brain teaser about a store’s financial loss has gone viral, confusing people all over the internet. What seems like a simple question has sparked debates, with different answers and explanations circulating online. Originally posted by the X account “Out of Context Human Race,” the puzzle has been viewed millions of times and continues to challenge those who come across it. Let’s take a closer look at this riddle and find out the real answer.
The scenario goes like this: A man steals a $100 bill from a store. Later, he returns and spends that same $100 bill to buy $70 worth of goods. The store also gives him $30 in change. Now, the big question: How much did the store actually lose? At first, it might seem obvious, but as people started analyzing the problem, different answers emerged.
To figure out the true loss, let’s examine each part of the situation. First, the store loses $100 when the money is stolen. However, when the thief makes a purchase, the store receives that $100 bill back. While this cancels out the initial cash loss, the store now loses $70 worth of goods. On top of that, the store hands over $30 in change, which is an additional loss. Adding both together, the total loss is $100.
Some people argue that the store lost $130, believing that the theft and the $30 change should be counted separately. But this overlooks an important detail—the stolen money was returned when the purchase was made, meaning it no longer counts as a loss. The actual loss comes from the items given away and the cash handed over.
This puzzle has proven to be a great test of logical thinking. While it may seem tricky at first, the final answer is clear: The store lost $100—$70 in goods and $30 in cash. Did you solve it correctly, or did you get caught up in the confusion?
