Question 143199
Number of oranges to start:  {{{x}}}


What was left after the man:  {{{(x/2)-3}}}


What was left after the woman:  {{{(((x/2)-3)/2)-3}}}


What was left after the old lady:  {{{(((((x/2)-3)/2)-3)/2)-3}}}


What was left after the young man:  {{{(((((((x/2)-3)/2)-3)/2)-3)/2)-3}}}


The boy only had 1 orange to buy, so what was left after the young man must have been 1, therefore:


{{{(((((((x/2)-3)/2)-3)/2)-3)/2)-3=1}}}


Add 3 to both sides and then multiply by 2:


{{{((((((x/2)-3)/2)-3)/2)-3)=8}}}


Repeat:


{{{((((x/2)-3)/2)-3)=22}}}


Repeat:


{{{((x/2)-3)=50}}}


And one more time...with feelin'


{{{x=106}}}



Check the answer
Start:  106
Man, half is 53, plus 3 is 56, leaving 50
Woman, half is 25, plus 3 is 28, leaving 22
Old Lady, half is 11, plus 3 is 14, leaving 8
Young Man, half is 4 plus 3 is 7, leaving 1 for the Boy.  Checks.