document.write( "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? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #121151 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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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?
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\n" ); document.write( "Let x = original number of birds
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\n" ); document.write( " $\"1%2F4\"$ x + 2 + 3 + 4 = x
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply 4 to get rid of the fraction:
\n" ); document.write( "x + 8 + 12 + 16 = 4x
\n" ); document.write( "36 = 4x - x
\n" ); document.write( "x = $\"36%2F3\"$
\n" ); document.write( "x = 12 birds
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Check in original equation:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"1%2F4\"$ (12) + 2 + 3 + 4 = 12
\n" ); document.write( "3 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 12 \n" ); document.write( "

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