document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=281389>Question 281389</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> three tired and hungry men went to sleep with a bag of apples. one man woke up, ate 1/3 of the applaes, then went back to sleep. later a second man woke up and ate 1/3 of the remaining alpples. when he was fiished there were 8 apples left. how many apples were in the bag originally \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "* create a solution that uses algebre and show all steps uses  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #204395 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=oberobic><B>oberobic(2304)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=oberobic><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=204395\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> x = number of apples in the bag originally<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We are told the first man ate 1/3 of the apples.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "That means that 2/3 of the apples were left in the bag.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We are told the second man ate 1/3 of the apples that he found in the bag.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "BUT notice that he did NOT eat 1/3 of x apples.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "He ate 1/3 of the 2/3 of the apples that were left in the bag.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "1/3*2/3 = 2/9<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the second man ate 2/9 of the x total apples.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "That means the two men ate a total of 1/3x plus 2/9x, leaving 8 apples in the bag.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "1/3x + 2/9x = 3/9x + 2/9x = 5/9x<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "However, notice that the above tells us how many apples they ate, not how many apples are left.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x - 5/9x is how many apples are left, which is 9/9x - 5/9x = 4/9x.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "4/9x is how many apples are left.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "4/9x = 8<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "4x = 72<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 18<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Checking our work...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "How many apples are 1/3 of 18?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/3*18 = 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So the first man ate 6 apples, leaving 12 in the bag.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "How many apples are 1/3 of 12?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/3*12 = 4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So the second man ate 4 apples, leaving 8 apples in the bag.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Correct.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Answer:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "There were 18 apples in the bag originally.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Done. </SPAN>\n" );
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