Question

Three friends went to a restaurant. After dinner, they paid their bill and noticed a bowl of mints. Maya took 1/3 of the mints, but returned 4. Ananya took 1/4 of what left but returned three. Rashmi then took half of the remaining but returned 2. The bowl had only 17 mints left. How many mints were there originally in the bowl?

(a) 48
(b) 57
(c) 54
(d) 45
(e) 36​

Answer 1

Answer:

48 (option a)

Step-by-step explanation:

let the total mints = x

Rashmi took = (x - x/2 ) +2 = 17

x/2 +2 = 17

x/2 = 15

x = 30......

so... before Rashmi took there are 30 mints in the bowl ..

Anaya took = (x- x/4) + 3=30

$\frac{4x - x}{4} + 3 = 30 \\ \frac{3x}{4} + 3 = 30 \\ \frac{3x}{4} = 27 \\ 3x = 108 \\ x = \frac{108}{3} = 36$

so.. before Anaya took there are 36 mints in the bowl..

Maya took = (x-x/3) + 4 = 36

$\frac{3x - x}{3} + 4 = 36 \\ \frac{2x}{3} = 32 \\ 2x = 32 \times 3 \\ 2x = 96 \\ x = 96 \div 2 = 48$

hence....

there are 48 mints in the bowl....

thank you

hope it helps ❤️ ❤️