Question

3/5 pencils sold in the morning. 1/4 of the remainder in the afternoon. If 200 more pencils were sold in the morning than afternoon, how many pencils did they start with

Answer 1

x = total pencils = 400 pencils

Explanation:

Let

x = total pencils

Pencils sold in the morning = 3/5x

Remaining pencil = x - 3/5x

= 5x-3x/5

= 2/5x

Pencils sold in the afternoon = 1/4 of the remainder

= 1/4 * 2/5x

= 2/20x

= 1/10x

Pencils sold in the afternoon = 1/10x

3/5x + 200 = 1/10x

3/5x - 1/10x = 200

(6x-x)/10 = 200

5/10x = 200

1/2x = 200

x = 200 ÷ 1/2

= 200 × 2/1

x = 400 pencils

x = total pencils = 400 pencils