SOLUTION: Hi Jack has some magnets. He gives Kevin half his magnets plus 1 magnet and gives bob half of his remaining magnets plus 2 magnets. If Jack has 6 magnets left how many did he have

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Question 1205923: Hi
Jack has some magnets. He gives Kevin half his magnets plus 1 magnet and gives bob half of his remaining magnets plus 2 magnets. If Jack has 6 magnets left how many did he have at first

Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, josgarithmetic:
Answer by ikleyn(52776) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Jack has some magnets. He gives Kevin half his magnets plus 1 magnet
and gives bob half of his remaining magnets plus 2 magnets.
If Jack has 6 magnets left how many did he have at first.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I will write a table showing each Jack's step separately.


    1)  Jack gives Kevin half his magnets.

    2)  Jack gives Kevin 1 additional magnet.

    3)  Jack gives Bob half remaining magnets.

    4)  Jack gives Bob 2 additional magnet.

    5)  At the end Jack has 6 magnets left.


Now move backward, from the end to the beginning.


From the table, you conclude that immediately before step 4 Jack had 6+2 = 8 magnets.

Hence, immediately before step 3) Jack had 8*2 = 16 magnets.

Hence, immediately before step 2) Jack had 16+1 = 17 magnets.

Hence, before step 1) Jack had 2*17 = 34 magnets.



Thus the problem is just solved, and the answer is

    +------------------------------------+
    |    At first, Jack had 34 magnets.  |
    +------------------------------------+


Solved.

--------------------

Thus, I solved the problem MENTALLY.

The method, which I used, is called the BACKWARD METHOD.


Good for young student to wake up their minds and make them smile.

Also good for all other ages readers - for the same purpose.



Answer by josgarithmetic(39616) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Jack initially has m magnets and then gives way some to two people.

Gave to Kevin and still has m-m%2F2-1;

Gave to Bob and still has 6;
%28m-m%2F2-1%29-%281%2F2%29%28m-m%2F2-1%29-2=6
.
.
4m-2m-2m%2Bm=36-2
highlight%28m=34%29