Question 1021164: Three friends paid their bill at a restaurant and noticed the jar of mints.
Sean took 1/3 of them but put 4 back because he felt guilty.
Fazzie took ¼ of what was left but returned 3
Gene took ½ of what was left and returned 2.
Now there are 17 mints left. How many were there at the beginning?
Answer by macston(5194)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Before Gene returned 2, there were 15, which was half.
So before Gene took any, there were 30.
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Before Fazzie returned 3, there were 27, which was 3/4.
Before Fazzie took any there were 36.
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Before Sean returned 4, there were 32, which was 2/3.
Before Sean took any there were 48.
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There were 48 mints at the beginning.
.
CHECK:
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Sean took 1/3 (or 16) leaving 32.
Sean put back 4, leaving 36.
There are now 36 mints in the jar.
Fazzie took 1/4 (or 9), leaving 27.
Fazzie returned 3, leaving 30.
There are now 30 mints in the jar.
Gene took 1/2 (or 15), leaving 15.
Gene returned 2, leaving 17.
There are now 17 mints in the jar
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Answer: There were 48 mints at the beginning.
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