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??????

Answer 1

15. Because if you place the variable x as the total then do all the addition you will have:
\[3(x/3 - x/5) + x/3 + x/5 + 1 = x\] which when simplified and reduced you get: \[14x + 15 = 15x\] so \[x=15\]