Question

Paul caught exactly 3 times as many fish as Eric and exactly 4 times as many as Steve. If they caught less than 100 fish altogether, what is the greatest number of fish that Paul could have caught? EXPLANATION PLEASE

Answer 1

Let x be the no. of fish caught by Paul

$x + \frac{x}{3} + \frac{x}{4} = 95$

$\frac{12x + 4x + 3x}{12} = 95$

or

$19x = 1140$

$x = 60$

Therefore no. of fish caught is:

Paul = 60

Eric = 1/3 (Paul) = 20

Steve = 1/4 (Paul) = 15

Total = 60 + 20 + 15 = 95

Note:

I have taken total fish = 95, because the figure should be divisible by 19, when multiplied by 12.

So you may say this is a type of Hit n Trial method. But this works quite good.