I saw a shirt for 97 bucks I borrowed 50 from my mom and 50 from my dad
50+50=100
I bought the shirt and had 3 bucks change and I kept it all now I owe my mom 50 and my dad 50
50+50=100 + my 3= 103... FREE MONEY!
Exactly. The original problem is just mis-stating it.
For those that still don't get it:
$50 + $50 = $100
$50 + $50 = $97 + $3
$49 + $49 = $97 + $1 (you gave $2 to the "other side" of the equation... kind of)
Whereas the "problem" said:
$49 + $49 = $98 + $1 = $99
This is the trick. The $1 needs to be paired with the $97 COST, not the sum of the other side. If you're giving perfect change, think of it as a "if they're each paying equally, Mom & Dad, how much did each pay?"
$97 + $3 = $50 + $50
$97 = ($50 - $3/2) + ($50 - $3/2)
$97 = $48.50 + $48.50
You SHOULD have given them each $1.50 back, not $1.
I hope this makes it clearer, and not worse.