NEED HELP BEFORE MIDNIGHT!!

Question

While he was at the grocery store, Raymond purchased a box of candy for himself. On the way back to the dorm, he ate 1/2 of the candy. As he was putting away the groceries, he ate 3/4 of what was left. There are now 3 chocolates left in the box. How many chocolates were in the box to begin with?

Answer 1

You may solve this in steps or as one big equation.  Let's write it all down.

 

Let x = number of chocolates originally in box    [note: the problem asks you to find this]

 

 purchased    -    ate on way      -   ate while putting away     =      number left

      x           -  (1/2)x               - (3/4)( x - (1/2)x )              =     3

 

Math:

      x   - (1/2)x   - (3/4)(x - (1/2)x) = 3         [re-write equation]

      8x  -  4x   - (3)(2x - x) = 24             [multiply by 8; I have trouble with fractions]

            4x   -6x  + 3x  = 24

                    x  =  24

There were originally 24 chocolates in the box.

 

Checking (very important):

    Originally 24, ate (1/2)(24)=12, so 12 were left.

          Ate (3/4) of (12 left) = ate 9, so 3 left.  Check!