SOLUTION: Chris was given a large bag of cookies and ate one third of the cookies before stopping as he was feeling sick. The next day he ate one third of the remaining cookies, and the foll

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Question 741100: Chris was given a large bag of cookies and ate one third of the cookies before stopping as he was feeling sick. The next day he ate one third of the remaining cookies, and the following day he ate one third of the remainder, before counting the cookies he had left which totaled eight. How many sweets was he given in the beginning?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
He started with +x+ cookies
After eating +1%2F3+, he has
+%282%2F3%29%2Ax+ left
He ate +1%2F3+, so he has
+%282%2F3%29%2A%282%2F3%29%2Ax+ left
Again he ate +1%2F3+, so he has
+%282%2F3%29%2A%282%2F3%29%2A%282%2F3%29%2Ax+ left
he has +8+ cookies left, so
+%282%2F3%29%2A%282%2F3%29%2A%282%2F3%29%2Ax+=+8+
+%288%2F27%29%2Ax+=+8+
+x+=+%2827%2F8%29%2A8+
+x+=+27+
He was given 27 cookies
check:
He ate +1%2F3+, and has
+%282%2F3%29%2A27+=+18+ left
He ate +1%2F3+, and has
+%282%2F3%29%2A18+=+12+ left
He ate +1%2F3+, and has
+%282%2F3%29%2A12+=+8+ left
OK