<PRE><B>Question 934874</B>
John eats 5/8 of a box of chocolates and leaves the rest for his friend. The box now contains 36 chocolates. How many chocolates were in the box at the start?

let total chocolates in box are X    and 5/8 of x eats 
reaming  in box = X-5x/8 =3x/8   or 3/8 of x 
as per given conditions 
3x/8=36
x=36.8/3=12.8=96
Answer 96 chocolates were in box  at the start


now you can  explain it  like 
as 5 parts chocolate eat  out of 8 parts
3 parts  reaming out of 8parts   that are equal to   36 chocolate 
3 parts=36
1 parts =36/3=12
than full 8 parts will be equal to 8x12=96 chocolate 
you are wel come for such type problem explanation</PRE>