Question 498718
Let x=number of oranges that Leslie had at the beginning
After the first person came and bought a third, she had x-(1/3)x=(2/3)x left
After the second person bought 4, she had (2/3)x-4 left
After the third person bought a fourth of the remaining, she had ((2/3)x-4))-1/4((2/3)x-4) left and we are told this equals 15, sooooo
((2/3)x-4)-1/4((2/3)x-4)=15  lets first multiply each term by 4
4(2/3)x-4)-(2/3)x+4=60
(8/3)x-16-(2/3)x+4=60
(6/3)x-12=60
2x=72
x=36----amount she had at the beginning

Ck
36-(1/3)*36=24
24-4=20
20-(1/4)*20=15
15=15

Hope this helps---ptaylor