SOLUTION: Hi there, I need some help turning this mathematical problem into an algebra equation. If you could help, that would be great! Thanks There are three men and a bag of apples.

Algebra ->  Human-and-algebraic-language -> SOLUTION: Hi there, I need some help turning this mathematical problem into an algebra equation. If you could help, that would be great! Thanks There are three men and a bag of apples.       Log On


   

Question 281711: Hi there,
I need some help turning this mathematical problem into an algebra equation. If you could help, that would be great!
Thanks
There are three men and a bag of apples. The first person ate 1/3 of the apples, the second ate 1/3 of the remaining apples, and the last person ate 1/3 of the remainder apples leaving a total of 8 in the bag. Now I know that there is a total of 27 apples but I need to be able to convert it into an algebra equation, which im having difficulty with.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = number of apples starting out
x+-+%281%2F3%29%2Ax+=+%282%2F3%29%2Ax remaining
%282%2F3%29%2Ax+-+%281%2F3%29%2A%282%2F3%29%2Ax+=+%286%2F9%29%2Ax+-+%282%2F9%29%2Ax
%286%2F9%29%2Ax+-+%282%2F9%29%2Ax+=+%284%2F9%29%2Ax remaining
%284%2F9%29%2Ax+-+%281%2F3%29%2A%284%2F9%29%2Ax+=+%2812%2F27%29%2Ax+-+%284%2F27%29%2Ax
%288%2F27%29%2Ax+=+8 remaining
x+=+27
There were 27 apples to start with