Question

A string of pearls such that 1/3 is lost and of that 1/4th is missing, remaining is 20. Then what is the actual number of pearls?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Let's start with the number of pearls in the original string, which we can call "x".

When 1/3 of the pearls are lost, we're left with 2/3 of the original number of pearls:

2/3 x

Of that 2/3, 1/4 is missing:

2/3 x * 1/4 = 1/6 x

So the number of pearls remaining is 20, which is equal to:

2/3 x - 1/6 x = 20

To solve for x, we can simplify this equation by finding a common denominator:

(4/6) * (2/3 x) - (1/6) x = 20

(8/18 x) - (1/6) x = 20

Multiplying both sides by 18 to eliminate the fractions:

8x - 3x = 360

5x = 360

x = 72

Therefore, the actual number of pearls in the original string was 72.

Answer 2

The actual number of pearls is 60.