Delivering Mail Problem.?

Question

Gary is delivering mail at Twin Towers East. He begins in the morning and takes the elevator to the 17th floor where he leaves 5/6 of his bag and then pickds up 22 new letters. Next stop is the 4th floor to leae 3/7 of his bag and pick up 14 pieces of mail. Next he goes to the 30th floor to drop off 1/3 of his bag and pick up 4 items. Up again to the 43rd floor to deliver 3/4 of his bag and pick up 10 items. Now down to the 10th floor to deliver 1/2 of his bag and then collect 2 new items. Up to the 24th floor to leave 3/5 of his bag. Then he picks up 3 new items. He goes to the 7th floor where he delivers everything he has left-7 items- and then he takes a break. How many pieces of mail did he deliver?

PS. I dont think that the floors have anything to do with it but i CAN NOT figure this problem out. Can you help me with the answer and how to get it please?

Thanks!!

Answer 1

He delivered 91 pieces of mail.

That sucker was tough.  You have to work it backwards.

Here's how I solved it.....

He completed his route by delivering 7 pieces on the 7th floor.  Included in that 7 were the 3 he picked up on the 24th floor.  So, after delivering 3/5 of his bag on the 24th, he had 4 pieces in his bag (before the 3 he picked up).  To have 4 left after delivering 3/5, he must have started that floor with 10 (delivered 3/5 = 6, had 4 left).

I kept working backwards like that.  it would take a long time to explain each floor in detail, but hopefully you get the idea of what I did to solve it.  Here are the totals:

17th Floor - Had 36 - delivered 30 (5/6) - 6 remained - picked up 22

4th Floor - Had 28 - delivered 12 (3/7) - 16 remained - picked up 14

30th Floor - Had 30 - delivered 10 (1/3) - 20 remained - picked up 4

43rd Floor - Had 24 - delivered 18 (3/4) - 6 remained - picked up 10

10th Floor - Had 16 - delivered 8 (1/2) - 8 remained - picked up 2

24th Floor - Had 10 - delivered 6 (3/5)  - 4 remained - picked up 3

7th Floor - Delivered 7

EDIT - You're very welcome.  Do you understand the process, or do you need me to explain each floor?

Answer 2

dont tell me we r doing ur homewrork lol JK

Answer 3

let me ask my husband, he delivers mail!