<PRE><B>Question 698346</B>
{{{(3/4)*(X/2) = 12}}}
Multiply both sides by 4/3
{{{X/2 = 48/3}}}
Simplify
{{{X/2 = 16}}}
Multiply both sides by 2
{{{highlight(X = 32)}}}
You started with 32 apples
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The reason the X/2 was multiplied by 3/4 was because the second person took 1/4 of the remaining apples.
1 - 1/4 = 3/4
That means that the last person took 3/4 of the remaining apples.</PRE>