document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=282360>Question 282360</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> This is the problem and they want an algebra solution.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Three tired and hungry men went to sleep with a bag of apples. One man woke up, ate 1/3 of the apples, then went back to sleep. Later a second man woke up and ate 1/3 of the remaining apples, then went back to sleep.Finally,the third man woke and ate 1/3 of the remaining apples. When he was finished there were 8 apples left. How many apples were in the bag originally? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #205028 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><B>richwmiller(17219)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=richwmiller><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=205028\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> This problem appears every couple weeks.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x-x/3-1/3(x-x/3)-1/3(x-x/3-1/3(x-x/3))=8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=27\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "first guy ate 1/3*27=9 leaving 18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "next guy ate 18/3=6 leaving 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3rd guy at 12/3=4 leaving 8\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "A simpler way to calculate by working backwards<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2/3x=8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2/3x=12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2/3x=18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=27\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );