Three travelers stopped at an inn for supper. The innkeeper could offer
only baked potatoes. While the potatoes were baking, the travelers fell
asleep. Soon, one of them woke up, saw the dish of potatoes, and took a
third of them without waking the others. Later the second one woke up, saw
the dish, and ate a third of the remaining potatoes. Later the third one
did the same. When all three were sleeping once again, the innkeeper
cleared the table and found 8 potatoes left.

How many potatoes were there to start with?

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Cheers,
:) James:)

The answer is 27.

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suresh

Yes you are right. Could u leave me ur solution here

__________________
Cheers,
:) James:)

I got the solution using the following way...

Step 1: Finally potatoes left on the table is 8. This is the total two of them of three. So total potatoes before eating the third person is (8/2)*3 = 12

Step 2: The same calculation (12/2)*3 = 18

Step 3: Once again the calculation (18/2)*3 = 27

That's it....We got a solution...

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suresh

8 * 3/2 * 3/2 * 3/2 = 27

its so simple

Let Initially total number of apples be x.

After first person takes his share : x*2/3

After second person takes his share : (x*2/3)*2/3
N.b. each time one person taes his share left one is two third of the amount present before taking.


After Third person takes his share : (x*2/3*2/3)*2/3

Therefore : x*2/3*2/3*2/3 = 8

That is x=27.(Ans)