A Simple Trading Puzzle That Tests Logical Thinking
A short riddle shown in the image presents a classic money-tracking problem. At first glance, the numbers appear confusing, but when broken down step by step, the outcome becomes clear and easy to understand.
The Scenario Explained
- He buys a horse for $60
- He sells the horse for $70
- He buys the horse back for $80
- He sells the horse again for $90
The key question is: How much money did he make or lose in total?
Step-by-Step Breakdown
To avoid confusion, it helps to separate each transaction into gains and losses:
- First transaction
- Bought for $60
- Sold for $70
- Profit: $10
- Second transaction
- Bought for $80
- Sold for $90
- Profit: $10
Total Result
- Total profit: $20
- The man made money, not lost it.
Why This Puzzle Tricks Many People
- The repeated buying and selling distracts from the simple math.
- Some people incorrectly compare the highest buy price with the lowest sell price.
- The correct approach is to calculate profit per transaction, then add them together.
Final Conclusion
- The man made $20 in total profit.
- Each buy-sell cycle resulted in a gain.
- The horse itself is irrelevant; only the price differences matter.
