SOLUTION: On Monday, Popeye ate a third of a new case of spinach. On Tuesday, he ate 75% of what remained in the case after Mondays meal. On Wednesday, he finished the case. Tuesday's mea

Algebra ->  Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> SOLUTION: On Monday, Popeye ate a third of a new case of spinach. On Tuesday, he ate 75% of what remained in the case after Mondays meal. On Wednesday, he finished the case. Tuesday's mea      Log On


   

Question 140063: On Monday, Popeye ate a third of a new case of spinach. On Tuesday, he ate 75% of what remained in the case after Mondays meal. On Wednesday, he finished the case. Tuesday's meal consisted of 12 cans of spinach. How much spinach did he eat on Monday? Show how you know?
Ohhh, I am so frustrated with this problem. Is this something I have to work backwards on? Please helo me. Thankyou dani..
Answer by mathslover(157) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the total spinach cans in the case be x
On Monday he ate 1%2F3+%2Ax+ of the spinach cans.
So amount left after Monday = x+-+x%2F3
=+%283x+-x%29%2F3
=2x/3
On Tuesday he ate 75% of the remaining
i.e. %2875%2F100%29+%2A+%282x%2F3%29
Given that on Tuesday he at 12 cans. Therefore,
%2875%2F100%29+%2A+%282x%2F3%29 =12
%283%2F4%29+%2A+%282x%2F3%29= 12 simplifying 75/100 as 3/4
x%2F2= 12
x=+12%2A2
x=24
The amount he ate on Monday = x/3
= 24/3
= 8 cans