Question

Jelly ate 3 apples. This represents 50% of the bag of apples. How many apples were originally in the bag

Answer 1

There were 6 apples.

Answer 2

Answer: 6 apples

x = number of apples originally

50% of x = 0.50*x = amount of apples eaten = 3

0.50x = 3

x = 3/0.50 ....... divide both sides by 0.50

x = 6

You can think of 50% as 1/2. If 3 apples represent half the bag, then the full bag is 6 apples. So half of 6 is 3.