This problem was used a few times on the classic radio program The Life of Riley in the 1940s. Is there an answer?
A farmer sells 2 bushels of apples at X dollars a bushel. The next day the farmer sells 3 bushels of tomatoes for 1/3 the price of the apples. The day after he sells 1 ½ bushels of potatoes for 4/5 the price of the tomatoes. With the money he receives he buys 3 gallons of kerosene and 6 bags of fertilizer. If kerosene sells at $1 a gallon and fertilizer at $4 a bag, what's the price of … the apples?!
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Expert's answer
2012-08-10T09:23:40-0400
A farmer sells 2 bushels of apples at X dollars a bushel. T = 2 * X. The next day the farmer sells 3 bushels of tomatoes for 1/3 the price of the apples. T = 2 * X + 3 * (X / 3) The day after he sells 1 ½ bushels of potatoes for 4/5 the price of the tomatoes. T = 2 * X + 3 * (X / 3) + 1.5 * (4 * (X / 3) / 5) With the money he receives he buys 3 gallons of kerosene and 6 bags of fertilizer: C = 3 * 1 + 6 * 4 = 27 If T = C: 2 * X + 3 * (X / 3) + 1.5 * (4 * (X / 3) / 5) = 27 2 * X + X + 12 * X / 30 = 27 90 * X / 30 + 12 * X / 30 = 27 102 * X = 810 X = $7.94
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