document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1206035>Question 1206035</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Hi<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The ratio of apples alicia Ben and Don has 3 to 8 to 4 respectively.  When Ben gave 21 apples to alicia and Don all of them had the same number in the end. How many  apples did Ben have at first.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #843213 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13198)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=843213\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Given the ratio 3:8:4 initially, let the numbers of apples each of them had be 3x, 8x, and 4x.  The total number of apples is then 3x+8x+4x = 15x.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "In the end, each of them had the same number; so in the end the number each of them had was 15x/3 = 5x.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The number of apples Ben started with was 8x; the number he ended with was 5x; so the number he gave away was 3x.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The number he gave away was 21, so 3x = 21 and x = 7.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The number Ben started with was 8x = 8*7 = 56.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: 56<br><BR>\n" );
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