Interactive Quiz: Initial Grains Quantity
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.
What was the initial quantity, in kg, of grains?
Detailed Solution:
Step 1: Understand the problem
Let the initial quantity of grains be \( x \) kg.
Step 2: Simplify after the first customer
The first customer takes \( \frac{x}{2} + 3 \):
Remaining grains = \( x – \left(\frac{x}{2} + 3\right) = \frac{x}{2} – 3 \).
Step 3: Simplify after the second customer
The second customer takes \( \frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{x}{2} – 3\right) + 3 = \frac{x}{4} + \frac{3}{2} \).
Remaining grains = \( \frac{x}{2} – 3 – \left(\frac{x}{4} + \frac{3}{2}\right) = \frac{x}{4} – \frac{9}{2} \).
Step 4: Simplify after the third customer
The third customer takes \( \frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{x}{4} – \frac{9}{2}\right) + 3 = \frac{x}{8} + \frac{3}{4} \).
Remaining grains = \( \frac{x}{4} – \frac{9}{2} – \left(\frac{x}{8} + \frac{3}{4}\right) = 0 \).
Step 5: Solve for \( x \)
Solve \( \frac{x}{8} – \frac{21}{4} = 0 \):
Multiply through by 8:
\( x = 42 \).
Final Answer: The initial quantity of grains is \( \boxed{42} \).