Cuidadosamente, Severina, a empregada dos "Silva" arruma uma bela cesta de maçãs. O patriarca ao ver as maçãs toma para si 1/6 das frutas, sua esposa pega 1/5 das restantes, o filho mais velho pega para si 1/4 do restante, o filho do meio e o mais novo pegam, respectivamente 1/3 e 1/2 dos restantes. Quando Severina chega e percebe o cesto praticamente vazio, fica magoada com a gulodice dos patrões e decide pegar para si as 3 frutas restantes. Quantas eram as maçãs arrumadas originalmente por Severina? A) 18 maçãs B) 25 maçãs C) 31 maçãs D) 42 maçãs E) 45 maçãs

There was a total of 18 apples

Step-by-step explanation:

Let us consider the total no. of apples be 'a'.

Patriarca took 1/6 of the apples. So the remaining apples is,

a - (1/6) a = (5/6) a

Step 1:

His wife takes (1/5) of the rest of the apples. So after she takes the apples the remaining apples will be,

(5/6) a - (1/5) (5/6) a

(5/6) a - (1/6) a = (4/6) a

Step 2:

Her elder son takes (1/4) of the remaining apples. So,

(4/6) a - (1/4) (4/6) a

(4/6) a - (1/6) a = (3/6) a

Step 3:

Middle son takes (1/3) of the remaining apples. So,

(3/6) a - (1/3) (3/6) a

(3/6) a - (1/6) a = (2/6) a

Step 4:

Younger son takes (1/2) of the remaining apples. So,

(2/6) a - (1/2) (2/6) a

(2/6) a - (1/6) a = (1/6) a

After work she takes the remaining 3 apples. So the remaining apples were 3

So,

(1/6) a = 3

a = 3 x 6

a = 18 apples

There were a total of 18 apples.