Question 34861: Hi. How would I solve the following problem?
There was a jar of cookies on the table. Kira was hungry, so whe ate half the cookies. Then Steve ate a third of what was left in the jar. Niki came by and decided to take a fourth of the remaining cookies. Then Kayla came and took a cookie to munch on. When Pam looked at the cookie jar, she saw that there were two cookies left. How many cookies were there in the jar to begin with?
Can you explain how I would figure this out? Thanks for your help!
Answer by stanbon(75887)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! There was a jar of cookies on the table.
Kira was hungry, so whe ate half the cookies.
Then Steve ate a third of what was left in the jar.
Niki came by and decided to take a fourth of the remaining cookies.
Then Kayla came and took a cookie to munch on.
When Pam looked at the cookie jar, she saw that there were two cookies left. How many cookies were there in the jar to begin with?
Start with "x" cookies.
After Kira you have: x-(1/2)x=(1/2)x
After Steve you have: (1/2)x-(1/3)[x/2]=(2/3)(1/2)x= (1/3)x
After Niki you have: (1/3)x-(1/4)(1/3)x= (3/4)(1/3)x= (1/4)x
After Kayla you have (1/4)x - 1
EQUATION: (1/4)x -1 = 2
x-4=8
x=12 cookies (the amount of cookies you had in the beginning)
Cheers,
Stan H.
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