Math Riddle #3(solved)

[Ohio]

Four men were shipwrecked on an island. They didn't have any food with them, so they searched the island for food and found some pineapples. After they had gathered some pineapples, they decided to rest and they all fell asleep. The first man woke up and he was extremely hungry so he ate 1/3 of the pineapples. He then went back to sleep. The second man woke up and he was extremely hungry so he ate 1/3 of the pineapples. He then went back to sleep. The third man woke up and he was extremely hungry so he ate 1/3 of the pineapples. He then went back to sleep. The fourth man woke up and he was extremely hungry, but he ate only his rightful share of the remaining pineapples. There were 6 pineapples left.

How many pineapples did the men gather?

[kentris]

There were 24 pineapples altogether.

Basically, each of the first three men ate a 1/3 and if the rightful share is 6 pineapples

then 6 x 3 = 18

So in my theory, the first three men gathered together a total of 18 pineapples and ate their fare share of 1/3 of 18, whereas the 4th man got his own share of 6 pineapples.

So the total is 24.

[Ohio]

No, read it carefully. No one knew the others ate any part of the lot.

[z00ey]

they collected 27 pineapples..

this is how to startbr]
A = (1/3)X
B = (1/3)(X-A)
C = (1/3)(X-A-B)
D = (1/4)(X-A-B-C)
..and[img]http://proboards8.com/boardimages/sad.gif[/img]br]X - A - B - C -D = 6

..after a lot of transformations and calculating you ll get tobr]
(1/3)X - (1/27)X - (1/12)X + (1/108)X = 6

..a bit more and you ll getbr]
(6/27)X = 6
..so[img]http://proboards8.com/boardimages/sad.gif[/img]br]X = 27

..A,B,C,D are the amounts that the men took from the pile (X)

..if someone wants to see the whole calculation, pls try it yourself before asking, lol..
..took me about 30 lines, but i would post them if someone doesn t get it and is interested

[Ohio]

Well done zooey (PBF test, lol) It took me less lines, we will have to compare later.


Edit* HA! I knew it was a conspiracy z o o e y.

[z00ey]

rotfl.. dont tell me he really put it in.. *tests z o o e y without spaces: z00ey *

*edit one minute later:
hahaaaaa *jumps aroung laughing*