Question 914235: A bird laid a certain number of eggs in a nest, and a collector took away two- thirds of them. The bird laid dome more, and another collector took. Two-thirds of them
If the bird laid 12 eggs altogther and collectors took 10 altogether. How many eggs were there
to begin
with?
Answer by josmiceli(19441)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Let  = number of eggs to begin with
Collectors took 2/3, so there is 1/3 left, or
 eggs left
Let  = the extra eggs the bird then laid
the collectors took 2/3, so there are
 eggs left
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The bird laid 12 total eggs and
collectors took 10 total, so there are
 left at the end, so
-------------------------------
(1) 
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I also know that
(2) 
Subtract (2) from (1)
(1)
(2) 
---------------------
and, since
(2)
(2) 
There were 9 eggs to begin with
------------
check answer:
Collectors took 2/3, so they
took 6 and 3 were left
---------------------
The bird laid 3 more, so bird
then had 6 eggs
-----------------
Collectors took 2/3, or 4 eggs,
so 2 were left
----------------
Bird laid  eggs
Collectors took  eggs
 eggs were left
OK
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