Old Riddle

[chrisgel]

Hi, I've just remembered an old riddle from years back and realised that I never did find out the answer. Please don't gang up on me and call me dense but if anyone knows the answer and can explain it simply for me I'd be grateful.

3 men have a meal in a restaurant and the bill comes to £30.
They each give the waiter £10
The waiter takes the £30 to the owner and he decides to refund £5 as the soup was cold.
The waiter then pockets £2 and gives each of the men £1

This now means that each of the men has paid £9 (3 * 9 = 27) and the waiter has £2. Making a total of £29.
Where did the other £1 go?

[factor-fiction]

27-2= 25
Simple.
There is no logic to add the 27 and the 2

[emeritus]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question868315.html

[factor-fiction]

I meant 'adding'...

[Canary42]

You are summing the wrong figures. The three paid £27, of which £25 went to the owner and £2 went to the waiter.

[chrisgel]

Thanks Factor. I think!
Emeritus thanks for the link although I don't think that poster "got it" either.

[chrisgel]

Canary - Brilliant. A simple sentence that I can remember that explains it.