document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1035317>Question 1035317</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A shepherd had an unfortunate experience. He was looking after a number (n) of sheep when robbers overpowered him and stole 1/4 of his sheep. He managed to get 3 of the stolen sheep back. The robbers came back and stole 1/3 of the remaining sheep of which he again managed to get 2 back. The third time the robbers overpowered him, they stole 1/2 of the remaining sheep of which he once again managed to get 2 back . He then exactly had n/2 sheep left. Determine the value of n, showing all explanations </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #650040 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=robertb><B>robertb(5830)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=robertb><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=robertb><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=650040\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> He initially had n sheep.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "After 1/4 of his sheep was stolen, 3/4 of it remains.  Getting back 3 means he has <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > remaining.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The second time the robbers came, they stole 1/3 of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, thus <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > was left.  Having gotten 2 sheep back, the number of remaining sheep is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B+2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B+2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The third time the robbers came, they stole 1/2 of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B+2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B+2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, thus <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%281%2F2%29%28%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B+2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%281%2F2%29%28%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B+2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > was left.  Having gotten 2 sheep back, the number of remaining sheep is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%281%2F2%29%28%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B+2%29%2B2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%281%2F2%29%28%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B+2%29%2B2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The last quantity must be equal to n/2.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "==> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%281%2F2%29%28%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B+2%29%2B2++=n%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%281%2F2%29%28%282%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B+2%29%2B2++=n%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "==><IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%281%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B1+%2B2+=+n%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%281%2F3%29%28%283n%29%2F4+%2B+3%29+%2B1+%2B2+=+n%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "==> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n%2F4+%2B+1+%2B+3+=+n%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n%2F4+%2B+1+%2B+3+=+n%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "==> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4+=+n%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4+=+n%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >  ==> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight%28n+=+16%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight%28n+=+16%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
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