A man’s expensive car started making a terrible clanking noise, so he anxiously drove it to the nearest mechanic. After listening to the engine for a moment, the mechanic confidently said, “I can fix this.”
He grabbed a small hammer from his toolbox and gave a single, precise tap to a specific part of the engine. Instantly, the horrible clanking noise vanished, replaced by the smooth, quiet hum of a healthy motor. The owner was relieved but amazed at how simple the fix seemed.
“That’s incredible,” he said. “What do I owe you?”
“That will be two hundred dollars,” the mechanic replied calmly.
“Two hundred dollars?!” the owner balked. “You were done in five seconds! All you did was tap it with a hammer!”
The mechanic nodded. “The bill is simple: Tapping with the hammer is one dollar. Knowing exactly where to tap is one hundred and ninety-nine.”