Question

A baker is selling pies his first customer buys 1/2 of all the pies plus 1/2 of a pie. His second customer then buys 1/2 of the pies plus 1/2 of a pie the last customer buys 1/2 of the pies plus 1/2 pie. he has no more pies. how many did he start with?

Answer 1

7 pies

Explanation:

The first customer buys half of the pies (3-1/2) plus 1/2 of a pie (technically 4 pies in total) -----> there are 3 pies left.

The second customer buys half of the pies leftover (1-1/2) plus another 1/2 (technically 2 pies in total) -----> this leaves 1 pie.

The last customer buys half of the pies leftover (1/2) plus another 1/2 (technically 1 pie in total) -----> this leaves 0 pies.