A verbal math problem.

[RoyY51]

I heard this many years ago, on the Mark and Brian radio show (KLOS).

3 guys check into a motel: the desk clerk says; "That will be $30", so each guy hands the clerk $10 and off they go. A few seconds later, the manager comes down and asks: "Did you remember that we have that $25 special going on?" When the clerk says he didn't, the manager responds: "Here's 5 one-dollar bills...run up and give this to them." On the way up, the clerk thinks: "These guys don't know I owe them money...or how much. If I gave them $3, they'd be happy...and I could pocket $2."...and so he does. When he gets to the room, he says: "Guys, I made a slight mistake...you each get back a buck!" He then hands each man a dollar.

So...

Each man paid $10, each man got back $1, so each man paid $9.

3x9=$27

The two dollars in the clerk's pocket makes $29.

Where's the last dollar?