Question 170205
follow how much the man keeps __ let x=starting amount


"At the first, he gives up 1/3 of his rice" __ keeps (2/3)x


"at the second he is allowed to keep 1/3 of what is left" __ keeps 1/3 of (2/3)x __ now has (2/9)x


"at the third, he gives up 1/4 of what remains" __ keeps 3/4 of (2/9)x __ now has (1/6)x


"At the end, he has 6 pounds less than what he started with" __ (1/6)x=x-6


multiplying by 6 __ x=6x-36


adding 36-x __ 36=5x


dividing by 5 __ 7.2=x