logic Accounting trick

Question

Tom went to shop with a fake \$1000 for shopping.He bought items worth \$800 from shopkeeper A A.The shopkeeper had no change so he went to borrow from shopkeeper B. He came back and gave Tom his change.Shopkeeper B realized that shopkeeper A had given him a fake \$1000 note and went back for his money and was given a valid \$1000 note.

Question: How much did shopkeeper A lose ?

Answer 1

You are right, the loss is exactly \$1000, assuming of course that we ignore the profit made by selling \$800 worth of goods.

At the start, A had a valid \$1000 bill and \$800 of goods. At the end, she had no \$1000 bill, \$800 in small-bill change obtained from B, and none of those goods. The \$800 change balances the \$800 in goods, so the net loss is the valid \$1000 bill.

Answer 2

I believe the answer is \$1200. This is because Shopkeeper A loses \$800 to Tom. He exchanges with Shopkeeper B and gives Tom \$200 which means that Tom walked out with \$800 worth of items and \$200. Shpkpr B collects the remaining \$800 plus \$200 from Shpkpr A. 1000+200=1200