document.write( "Question 1208344: Hi
\n" ); document.write( "Alan Ben and Caleb shared some marbles. Alan took 40% of the marbles and was given 1 more . Ben took 25% of the remaining and was given 3 more. Caleb took the remaining 12 marbles. How many were there at first. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #846957 by MathTherapy(10551) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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document.write( "Hi\r\n" );
document.write( "Alan Ben and Caleb shared some marbles. Alan took 40% of the marbles and was given 1 more . Ben took 25% of the remaining and was given 3 more. Caleb took the remaining 12 marbles. How many were there at first.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Let original number of marbles, be M\r\n" );
document.write( "Then Alan took 40%(M) = .4M, and given 1 more, ended up with .4M + 1\r\n" );
document.write( "After Alan's .4M + 1, number remaining = (M - .4M) - 1 = .6M - 1\r\n" );
document.write( "With Ben taking 25% of remainder, given 3 more, he ended up .25(.6M - 1) + 3 \r\n" );
document.write( "Number remaining after Ben's take: (1 - .25)(.6M - 1) - 3\r\n" );
document.write( "                                         .75(.6M - 1) - 3\r\n" );
document.write( "                                           .45M - .75 - 3 = .45M - 3.75\r\n" );
document.write( "Since Caleb took the remainder (.45M - 3.75), which was 12, we get: .45M - 3.75 = 12\r\n" );
document.write( "                                                                           .45M = 15.75 \r\n" );
document.write( "                                        Original number of marbles, or

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