PUZZLE

You are sharing 50 oranges with 3 other people. Your first friend takes 1/5 of the oranges, your second friend takes 10% of the oranges, your final friend takes 20 oranges. How many oranges will you have?

ANSWER

Preamble: Number of oranges = 50; number of people sharing oranges = 4 (3 others plus yourself).

Step 1: First friend’s share = 1/5*50 = 10 oranges.

Step 2: Second friend’s share = 10% * 50 = (10/100)*50 = 5 oranges.

Step 3: Third (and final) friend’s share = 20 0ranges.

Step 4: Number of oranges given out to your three friends = 10 + 5 + 20 = 35 oranges

Number of oranges remaining for you = 50 – 35 = 15 oranges.

Note: The asteriks (*) symbol denotes multiplication.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF

How many oranges would you have if your second friend took 20% of the oranges and your third friend took 2/5th of the oranges (your first friend’s share has not changed).