document.write( "Question 1184394: Johnny had some pears. He sold 2/5 of them and then gave another
\n" ); document.write( "144 pears to his friend. Johnny then had 1/3 of his total pears left. How many
\n" ); document.write( "pears did he have at first? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #814971 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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Johnny had some pears.
\n" ); document.write( " He sold 2/5 of them and then gave another 144 pears to his friend.
\n" ); document.write( " Johnny then had 1/3 of his total pears left.
\n" ); document.write( " How many pears did he have at first?
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "let a = original amt he had
\n" ); document.write( "a - \"2%2F5\"a - 144 = \"1%2F3\"a
\n" ); document.write( "can use a decimal here
\n" ); document.write( "a - .4a - 144 = \"1%2F3\"a
\n" ); document.write( ".6a - 144 = \"1%2F3\"a
\n" ); document.write( "get rid of the fraction multiply by 3
\n" ); document.write( "1.8a - 432 = a
\n" ); document.write( "1.8a - a = 432
\n" ); document.write( ".8a = 432
\n" ); document.write( "a = 432/.8
\n" ); document.write( "a = 540 pears originally
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