Math Is Fun Forum

Gwood

Member

Registered: 2009-01-21

Posts: 3

Superstars III Question

I can not get this one and need help.

Shomika was helping her family pick oranges in their grove. She took some oranges home to share witj her freinds. She gave 3 more than half to Jennifer. Angela got half of the remainder and 3 more. She gave Josie half of the remainder plus 3. When she got home, she had only 10 oranges left. How many did she have when she left the grove?

Thanks

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: Superstars III Question

You just need to work this story backwards.
She gave Josie half of what she had and then 3 more, leaving her with 10.

Before she gave Josie the 3 more, she'd have 13. If she was left with 13 after giving half away, she'd have had 26 oranges before meeting Josie. (It's easy to check this works - three more than half of 26 is 13+3 = 16, which would leave 10 left)

Now do the same thing to work out how many oranges she'd have before meeting Angela, and again to work out how many she had to start with.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

Gwood

Member

Registered: 2009-01-21

Posts: 3

Re: Superstars III Question

Correction 122.

Thanks for your help!!

JaneFairfax

Member

Registered: 2007-02-23

Posts: 6,868

Re: Superstars III Question

If you have

of something and you give 3 more than half of it away, the remainder will be

.

Iterating this twice gives

Now solve

for

.