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A shop wants to sell a certain quantity (in kg) of grains. It sells half the quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the first customer. Then, it sells half of the remaining quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the second customer. Finally, when the shop sells half of the remaining quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the third customer, there are no grains left. The initial quantity, in kg, of grains is

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 1
What We KnowMathematical Expression
Shop starts with some quantityLet's call this xx kg
Shop sells "half + 3 kg"Amount sold =x2+3= \frac{x}{2} + 3 kg
What's left after sellingAmount left =x−(x2+3)= x - (\frac{x}{2} + 3)
Simplify the "Amount left"=x2−3=\boxed{ \frac{x}{2} - 3} kg

Hence, we have x2−3\frac{x}{2}-3 left after selling to each customer.

We can think in reverse (as no grains are left after selling to the 3rd customer):

StepLeft After Salex2−3=\frac{x}{2} - 3 = Left After SaleSolutionBefore Sale
After 3rd0 kgx2−3=0\frac{x}{2} - 3 = 0x=6x = 66 kg before 3rd customer
After 2nd6 kgx2−3=6\frac{x}{2} - 3 = 6x=18x = 1818 kg before 2nd customer
After 1st18 kgx2−3=18\frac{x}{2} - 3 = 18x=42x = 4242 kg initially

Hence, there were 42 kgs.


You could also try with options (could be faster):

Trying with x=42x = 42 kg:

CustomerQuantity at StartTotal Sold = Half Quantity + 3 kgRemaining
Initial42 kg-42 kg
Customer 142 kg21 + 3 = 24 kg18 kg
Customer 218 kg9 + 3 = 12 kg6 kg
Customer 36 kg3 + 3 = 6 kg0 kg ✓

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