SOLUTION: Melissa is watching a group of birds in a feeder. A noise startles the birds and 1/4 of the birds fly away. Of the birds remaining 2 fly to a nearby feeder. 3 fly to a nearby tr

Question 164274: Melissa is watching a group of birds in a feeder. A noise startles the birds and 1/4 of the birds fly away. Of the birds remaining 2 fly to a nearby feeder. 3 fly to a nearby tree. 4 remain at the feeder. How many birds were at the feeder before the noise startled them?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A noise startles the birds and 1/4 of the birds fly away. Of the birds remaining 2 fly to a nearby feeder. 3 fly to a nearby tree. 4 remain at the feeder. How many birds were at the feeder before the noise startled them?
:
Let x = original number of birds
:
x + 2 + 3 + 4 = x
Multiply 4 to get rid of the fraction:
x + 8 + 12 + 16 = 4x
36 = 4x - x
x =
x = 12 birds
:
Check in original equation:
(12) + 2 + 3 + 4 = 12
3 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 12
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