Out of a swarm of bees one fifth part settled on a Kadamba blossom; one third on a Silihindra flower; three times the difference of those numbers flew to the bloom of a Kutaja. One bee, which remained, hovered about in the air. Tell me, charming woman, the number of bees???

Hint: Call the number of bees and convert the story into an equation.

Question

Out of a swarm of bees one fifth part settled on a Kadamba blossom; one third on a Silihindra flower; three times the difference of those numbers flew to the bloom of a Kutaja. One bee, which remained, hovered about in the air. Tell me, charming woman, the number of bees???

Hint: Call the number of bees  and convert the story into an equation.

anonymous · Answer

(1/3)x = KB
(1/5)x = SF

KB - SF = y

3y = K

x = total number of bees

x - 1 = KB + SF + K

x - K - KB - SF = 1

x - 3([1/3]x - [1/5]x) - 1/3x - 1/5x = 1

x - x + 3/5x - 1/3x - 1/5x

2/5x - 1/3x = 1

6/15 - 5/15 = 1

1/15 = 1

x = 15