SOLUTION: Barney has some money. He spends �10 on a meal and then one-quarter of what he has left on a taxi home. He now has half of what he started with. How much did Barney have at the s

Question 675341: Barney has some money.
He spends �10 on a meal and then one-quarter of what he has left on a taxi home. He now has half of what he started with.
How much did Barney have at the start?
I first thought that since he had half left and said that he spent 1/4 on the taxi, the �10 that he spent on the meal must have also been 1/4 so he must have begun with �40 however compared to the other questions in the homework paper it seemed to obvious? Please help!
Answer by ewatrrr(24785) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

 

Hi

He spends �10 on a meal and then one-quarter of what he has left on a taxi home. 

He now has half of what the he started with.

Best to Set it Up Algebraically:

    |Multiplying thru by 4 so as all denominators = 1

    4x-40 - (x-10) = 2x

            x = �30, amount he started with

and...

�30 - �10  - �5 = �15 

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