Question

Trivia took some fishbowls to a flea market. In the first hour she sold one-third of them and a third more; in the second hour, she sold half of them and a half more; in the third hour she sold one-third and a third of one more; the next hour she sold half and half of one more; finally, she sold the last two. How many fishbowls did Trivia sell?

Answer 1

Number of bowls left after 1 hour = x - x/3 - 1/3 = 2x/3 - 1/3

Number of bowls left after 2 hours = (2x/3 - 1/3) - (2x/3 - 1/3)/2 - 1/2 = 2x/6 - 1/6 - 1/2 = 2x/6 - 4/6 = x/3 - 2/3

keep doing this untill u reach 0 bowls left
and then u'll get ur answer