Question

Twenty caravans are travelling through the desert one day apart. The first caravan

reached an oasis and the camels drank half of the water in the pool. On the

second day, the second caravan reached the oasis and the camels drank one third

of the water left . On the third day the third caravan reached the oasis and the

camels drank one quarter of the water left in the pool. On the first day the pool

contained 1050 cubic litres of water. How much water was left after the 20th

caravan passed through.

(Hint: observe the pattern and calculate)​

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The first caravan left half of the water. The second caravan left

\begin{gathered} \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{3} \\ \frac{3}{4} \times \frac{1}{3} = \frac{1}{4} \end{gathered}

3

2

×

2

1

=

3

1

4

3

×

3

1

=

4

1

of the water. Continuing the pattern, the 20th caravan leaves

\frac{1}{21}

21

1

or 50 m3 of water.