SOLUTION: I read 2/3 of a book on first day and 3/5 of the remaining pages on second day still 40 pages left for the third day find out how many pages does the book contain

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Question 1084202: I read 2/3 of a book on first day and 3/5 of the remaining pages on second day still 40 pages left for the third day find out how many pages does the book contain
Found 2 solutions by math_helper, josmiceli:
Answer by math_helper(2461) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x = number of pages
After reading 2/3 on the first day, there are 1/3 pages remaining, so:
+%281%2F3%29x+-+%283%2F5%29%28%281%2F3%29x%29+=+40+
+%281%2F3%29x+-+%281%2F5%29x+=+40+
++5x+-+3x+=+600+
+++2x+=+600
++highlight%28x+=+300%29+
—
Check: 300 * 2/3 = 200 pages read on first day (leaving 100)
100 * 3/5 = 60 pages read on 2nd day (leaving 40, ok)

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +x+ = the number of pages in the book
"I read 2/3 of a book on first day"
That is +%282%2F3%29%2Ax+
That leaves 1/3 of the pages left
That is +%281%2F3%29%2Ax+
3/5 of the remaining pages is:
+%283%2F5%29%2A%281%2F3%29%2Ax+=+%281%2F5%29%2Ax+
------------------------------
Now I can say:
+%282%2F3%29%2Ax+%2B+%281%2F5%29%2Ax+%2B+40+=+x+
Multiply both sides by +15+
+10x+%2B+3x+%2B+600+=+15x+
+2x+=+600+
+x+=+300+
The book has 300 pages
---------------------------
check:
+%282%2F3%29%2A300+=+200+ pages on the 1st day
There are 100 pages left
+%283%2F5%29%2A100+=+60+ pages on the 2nd day
There are +300+-+260+=+40+ pages left
That is correct