document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1207243>Question 1207243</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A money box contained some money at first. A took 1/2 the amount of money and another $1500 from the box. After that, B took 1/4 of the remaining amount of money and another $850 from the box. In the end, C took the rest of the money left in the box. Given that C took $1400, find the amount of money in the box at first. </SPAN>\n" );
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document.write( "This kind of problem is often solved more easily by working backwards, as described below.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "C got $1400.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Just before that, B took $850; so before B took $850 the amount was $1400+$850 = $2250.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Just before that, B took 1/4 of the money; that means the $2250 was 3/4 of the money that there was before.  So the amount of money before B took 1/4 of it was $2250*(4/3) = $3000.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Just before that, A took $1500; so before A did that the amount was $3000+$1500 = $4500.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "And just before that, A took 1/2 of the initial amount; that means the $4500 left after he took 1/2 of the money was also 1/2 of the money.  So the initial amount of money was $4500*(2/1) = $9000.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: $9000<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "CHECK:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "$9000 minus 1/2 of $9000 = $9000-$4500 = $4500<BR>\n" );
document.write( "$4500-$1500 = $3000<BR>\n" );
document.write( "$3000 - 1/4 of $3000 = $3000-$750 = $2250<BR>\n" );
document.write( "$2250-$850 = $1400<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );