As it turns out, no dollar is missing. The confusion comes from the way the numbers were crunched. Think about it like this: the $27 we paid already includes the waiter’s $2 tip. So rather than adding $2 to our side, we should add it to the restaurant’s side. Remember, the restaurant manager wanted to refund us $5, but only $3 ever made it into our hands. The other $2 is still with the restaurant (in the waiter’s pocket). Therefore, we paid $9 + $9 + $9 = $27 = $25 + $2. See? Nothing was lost!

This little puzzle isn’t just a cute math trick—it’s also a great example of how we sometimes mix up our numbers and perspectives in everyday life. Consider a trial where a defendant is accused of being in two places at once on the night of an incident. The prosecutor lays out a timeline that, at first glance, seems to show an unexplained gap. Then the defense attorney steps in. Instead of presenting the entire timeline, he highlights only those details that support his client’s alibi. He points out the periods when witnesses saw the defendant at locations that match the defense’s version of events but omits the security camera footage that fills in the missing time. By leaving out that crucial detail, the defense creates the impression that there’s a gap in the timeline, which