Question 1206035
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Given the ratio 3:8:4 initially, let the numbers of apples each of them had be 3x, 8x, and 4x.  The total number of apples is then 3x+8x+4x = 15x.<br>
In the end, each of them had the same number; so in the end the number each of them had was 15x/3 = 5x.<br>
The number of apples Ben started with was 8x; the number he ended with was 5x; so the number he gave away was 3x.<br>
The number he gave away was 21, so 3x = 21 and x = 7.<br>
The number Ben started with was 8x = 8*7 = 56.<br>
ANSWER: 56<br>