ElectricPavlov

b

2b + 4

2b + 4 -4b

(2b + 4 - 4b) / 2     =    (4 - 2b)/2 =  2 - b

Looks OK    ,  jjl

The NUMERATOR    factors  into   6y^2 (2y-1) ........does that tell ya anything?  

Looks good to me , jjl.......but I do not know what all that stuff in the big blue box is about.....

M = 1/2 L -5     (given)

(L-9)   - (M-9) = 21     sub in the 'given' for M

L-9  - (1/2L-5  -9) = 21

1/2L  -9 +5+9 = 21

1/2 L = 16

L=32

                  then    M = 1/2 L -5  =11 y/o

J = 3/4 F

F-J = 15          but   J= 3/4F   Put this in for J

F - 3/4F = 15

1/4 F = 15

F = 60   y/o      J= 3/4 F = 3/4 (60) = 45 y/o

15 / 12 = 1  1/4 

15/12 =  5/4  = 1  1/4      or   1.25   times

x = number of apples with which he started

    he gives away 1/3      so he has 2/3 left

         2/3  x      then he gives 1/2 away....leaving him 1/2 of what he had at this point

             1/2  2/3 x      then he dropped  1/4  ...so he still has 3/4 at this point

                 3/4   1/2    2/3  x   =  9

                  6 /24 x = 9

                          x = original amount = 36 apples