Three shares from one total, step by step
Ninety-two sweets between three children.
The question
How many does Red pick?
Count in parts, and take the extra off first
total:35· times:2· more:11
1 part+2 parts+1 part+11
35−11=24
24÷4=6
- One total and two relations: 35 apples, with Blue getting 2 times Red and Green getting 11 more than Red.
- Call Red's share one PART. Then Blue is 2 parts, and Green is one part and 11 on top. Nothing has been divided yet — this is just rewriting the question in one unit instead of three.
- That is 4 parts and 11 extra, adding to 35. The extra is not part of anybody's share of the parts, so take it off before dividing: 35 − 11 = 24.
- Now 24 splits into 4 equal parts: 24 ÷ 4 = 6. Dividing before taking the extra off is the usual slip, and it gives 8.75 instead. So Red holds 6 apples.
How it works.
- 01
One total and two relations: 35 apples, with Blue getting 2 times Red and Green getting 11 more than Red.
- 02
Call Red's share one PART. Then Blue is 2 parts, and Green is one part and 11 on top. Nothing has been divided yet — this is just rewriting the question in one unit instead of three.
- 03
That is 4 parts and 11 extra, adding to 35. The extra is not part of anybody's share of the parts, so take it off before dividing: 35 − 11 = 24.
- 04
Now 24 splits into 4 equal parts: 24 ÷ 4 = 6. Dividing before taking the extra off is the usual slip, and it gives 8.75 instead. So Red holds 6 apples.