SOLUTION: Four men were shipwrecked on an island. The first day they gathered a pile of coconuts and then went to sleep. During the night one of the men woke up and ate 1/3 of the coconuts.

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: Four men were shipwrecked on an island. The first day they gathered a pile of coconuts and then went to sleep. During the night one of the men woke up and ate 1/3 of the coconuts.       Log On


   

Question 55240: Four men were shipwrecked on an island. The first day they gathered a pile of coconuts and then went to sleep. During the night one of the men woke up and ate 1/3 of the coconuts. A second man woke up and ate 1/3 of the remaining cocnuts. A third man did the same. When the fourth man woke up he ate 1/4 of the remaining cocnuts. Then there were 6 coconuts left. How many coconuts did the men gather?
Answer by Paul(988) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%281%2F3%29%281%2F3%29=1%2F9
%281%2F3-1%2F9%29%281%2F3%29=2%2F27
%281%2F3-1%2F9-2%2F27%29%281%2F4%29=4%2F108
EQUATION
x%2F3-x%2F9-2x%2F27-4x%2F108=6
108%28x%2F3-x%2F9-2x%2F27-4x%2F108%29=108%286%29
36x-12x-4(2x)-4x=6(108)
12x=108
x=54
Hence, there were 54 coconuts
Paul.