The Simple Register Riddle That Is Leaving Thousands On The Internet Utterly Confused And Frustrated

A viral cash register riddle is confusing social media users, with many debating whether the store lost $200, $170, or $130.

The puzzle begins when a man steals a $100 bill from a store’s register. Later, he returns and uses that same stolen bill to buy $70 worth of merchandise. The cashier accepts the bill and gives him $30 in change.

At first, many people assume the store lost $200 because the thief stole $100 and then spent another $100. But that counts the same bill twice.

The real loss is $100.

Here’s why: the store originally lost $100 when the bill was stolen. When the man came back and paid with that same bill, the store simply got its own money back. But in exchange, it gave him $70 worth of merchandise and $30 in change.

That adds up to $100 total.

So the store’s final loss is not $200, $170, or $130 — it is $100.