Three sailors were marooned on an island. They worked all day collecting coconuts into a pile, which they decided they would share evenly the next morning. During the night, one sailor woke up and decided to collect his share. He made three equal piles, with one coconut left over, which he gave to a monkey in a nearby tree. He put his share away and left the remaining coconuts in a single pile. Later that night, a second sailor awoke and did the same thing, also giving one leftover coconut to the monkey in the tree. Later still, the third sailor awoke and did the same thing, giving the monkey a single coconut. In the morning, the three sailors noticed the pile was smaller, but said nothing. They then divided what was left of the original pile equally, but found they had one coconut left over which they gave to the monkey. How many coconuts were in the original pile?
Three sailors were marooned on an island. They worked all day collecting coconuts into a pile, which they decided they would share evenly the next morning. During the night, one sailor woke up and decided to collect his share. He made three equal piles, with one coconut left over, which he gave to a monkey in a nearby tree. He put his share away and left the remaining coconuts in a single pile. Later that night, a second sailor awoke and did the same thing, also giving one leftover coconut to the monkey in the tree. Later still, the third sailor awoke and did the same thing, giving the monkey a single coconut. In the morning, the three sailors noticed the pile was smaller, but said nothing. They then divided what was left of the original pile equally, but found they had one coconut left over which they gave to the monkey. How many coconuts were in the original pile?
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 4 steps
