This money puzzle asks: You have $500. Take away half, then add $50. How much do you have?
The answer is: $300.
Start with $500. Half of $500 is $250, so taking away half leaves:
$500 − $250 = $250.
Then add $50:
$250 + $50 = $300.
The wording can make the puzzle feel trickier than it really is, especially if you rush through the phrase “take away half.” The important step is recognizing that half refers to half of the original $500.
Once that is clear, the arithmetic is simple. If you answered $300, you handled both steps correctly.
