Question 332749
Do this one backwards
After the last fence, he has 1 apple.
Before the fence he had x apples
You are told {{{x/2 - 1/2 = 1}}}
{{{x/2 = 3/2}}}
{{{x = 3}}} so he hads 3 apples before the last fence.

Now go back to fence 2
{{{3 = y/2 - 1/2}}}
{{{7/2 = y/2}}}
{{{y = 7}}} He had 7 apples before he hopped the second fence

Now all the way back to the fence closest to the tree
{{{7 = z/2 - 1/2}}}
{{{15/2 = z/2}}}
{{{z = 15}}}
He started with 15 apples
He had to give 8 apples to the first farmer
4 apples to the second farmer
2 apples to the last farmer
and he ges one lousy apple for all his hard work and fence jumping
I hope it was worth it.

How about THEM apples :)