Answer:
5 coconuts
Explanation:
If there were no loss , and 52 coconuts were distributed among 4 people, the number of coconuts each one would have obtained would be 13. Now as few coconuts are spoiled, the each one of those 4 people can get
1) 12 coconuts , and as per condition given there will be 3 more coconuts left. Hence total number of coconuts would be 12*4+3=48+3=51
Hence 1 coconuts would have been spoiled. Now let us see if this satisfies the second condition too.
If 51 coconuts are distributed equally among 3 people , each one gets 17 coconuts and none is left. But the condition says that 2 coconuts are left. Hence
Our assumption of loss of coconut was wrong.
2) 11 coconuts, as per condition given there will be 3 more coconuts left. Hence total number of coconuts would be 11*4+3=44+3=47
Hence 52-47=5 coconuts would have been spoiled. Now let us see if this satisfies the second condition too.
If 47 coconuts are distributed equally among 3 people , each one gets 15 coconuts and 2 coconuts are left. Hence it satisfies the second condition also. Let us see, if it satisfies third condition too.
If 47 coconuts are distributed among 5 people , each one gets, 9 cocnuts and coconuts left will be 2. Hence it satisfies the third condition also.
Hence , there were 5 coconuts spoiled.