There are 50 sheep in line ahead of Eric. Each time the shearer is distracted shearing a sheep, Eric cuts ahead 2 sheep. How many sheep are shorn before Eric?

Question

Please explain

Answer 1

it seems that Eric is number 51

let's assume the number of sheep shorn before Eric is X

then this means that the number of sheep Eric will cut ahead of is 2X

 

this gives us 1 equation in 1 unknown 

X + 2X = 51

X = 17

so this means that by the time the shearer gets to number 17, Eric would have cut ahead of 34 and he would be number 18

 

hope this helps