<PRE><B>Question 1185960</B>
let x = the original amount.


24 = amount paid for bag.


x - 24 = remainder after buying bag for 24.


1/4 * (x - 24) = amount paid for food.


3/4 * (x - 24) = remainder after buying food.


this remainder is equal to 3/7 * the original amount = 3/7 * x.


you get:


3/7 * x = 3/4 * (x - 24)


multiply both sides of this equation by 7/3 to get


x = 3/4 * 7/3 * (x - 24)


simplify to get:


x = 21/12 * (x - 24)


simplify further to get:


x = 21/12 * x - 21/12 * 24.


simplify further to get:


x = 21/12 * x - 42


subtract x from both sides of the equation and add 42 to both sides of the equation to get:


42 = 21/12 * x - x


combine like terms to get:


42 = 21/12 * x - 12/12 * x = 9/12 * x


solve for x to get:


x = 12/9 * 42 = 56


the original amount is 56.
subtract 24 to get remainder after bag = 32
1/4 * 32 = amount paid for food = 8.
remainder after food = 24
24 = 3/7 * x = 3/7 * original amount.
solve for x to get:
x = 7/3 * 24 = 7 * 8 = 56.


solution is confirmed to be good.


solution is tom had 56 dollars at first.

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