SOLUTION: Here's another one. I just can't figure these word problems out! A man is carrying rice on a journey. He passes through three custom stations. At the first, he gives up 1/3 of h

Question 170197: Here's another one. I just can't figure these word problems out!
A man is carrying rice on a journey. He passes through three custom stations. At the first, he gives up 1/3 of his rice; at the second he is allowed to keep 1/3 of what is left; and at the third, he gives up 1/4 of what remains. At the end, he has 6 pounds less than what he started with. How much rice did he have when he started?
Answer by scott8148(6628) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
follow how much the man keeps __ let x=starting amount

"At the first, he gives up 1/3 of his rice" __ keeps (2/3)x

"at the second he is allowed to keep 1/3 of what is left" __ keeps 1/3 of (2/3)x __ now has (2/9)x

"at the third, he gives up 1/4 of what remains" __ keeps 3/4 of (2/9)x __ now has (1/6)x

"At the end, he has 6 pounds less than what he started with" __ (1/6)x=x-6

multiplying by 6 __ x=6x-36

adding 36-x __ 36=5x

dividing by 5 __ 7.2=x
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