Please, help me...

Question

Kim hiked half her planned trip the first day. Because she became tired, she covered only one-third of the remaining distance on the second day. Rain slowed her to one- fourth of the remaining distance on the third day. On the fourth day she hiked three miles, which was one fifth of the number of miles that she had left. How many miles did she hike during the four days?

Answer 1

The "problem" with this word problem is that the information that is used first is at the end of the writing.

 

The fourth day she traveled 3 miles that was 1/5 of the fifth day.

The fifth day was 15 miles

The fourth day was 3 miles

The third day she covered 1/4 of the remaining (18 from day 4 and 5), 18/4, or 4.5 miles

The second day covered 1/2 of the remaining 22.5 (18 + 4.5) or 11.25

The first day she covered 1/3 of the remaining 33.75 (15 + 3 + 4.5 + 11.25) or 11.25

 

In the first four days she traveled 11.25 + 11.25 + 4.5 + 3, or 30 miles.