A box contained some red, blue, and green markers. For every 3 red markers, there were 2 blue markers. For every 3 blue markers, there were 7 green markers. A) Find the ratio of red markers to blue markers to green markers. B) When 7 markers were removed from the box, 1/4 of the remaining markers were red markers. How many markers were left in the box?

r:b = 3:2 = 9:6

b:g = 3:7 = 6:14

r:b:g = 9:6:14

assuming none of the ones removed were red,
1/4 (9x+6x+14x - 7) = 9x

Hmmm. I get x = -1

better double-check my math and the problem.

A) To find the ratio of red markers to blue markers to green markers, we need to determine the number of each marker in relation to the others.

Let's start with the number of red markers. We know that for every 3 red markers, there are 2 blue markers. This means that the ratio of red to blue markers is 3:2.

Next, we know that for every 3 blue markers, there are 7 green markers. So the ratio of blue to green markers is 3:7.

We can express this relationship between red, blue, and green markers using the ratio 3:2:7.

B) Suppose there were initially X markers in the box. If 1/4 of the remaining markers after 7 were removed were red markers, it means that the number of red markers left in the box is X/4.

From the given information, we can determine the relationship between the number of red, blue, and green markers. Let's use the ratios we found earlier:

- Red markers: Blue markers: Green markers = 3:2:7
- Red markers left: X/4
- Blue markers left: Unknown (let's call it Y)
- Green markers left: Unknown (let's call it Z)

We need to find the values of Y and Z.

Since the ratio of red to blue markers is 3:2, we can set up the following equation:

(X/4) : Y = 3 : 2

To solve for Y, we can multiply both sides of the equation by 2:

2(X/4) = 3Y

Simplifying, we get:

X/2 = 3Y

Now, let's consider the ratio of blue to green markers, which is 3:7. We can set up the following equation:

Y : Z = 3 : 7

To solve for Z, we can multiply both sides of the equation by 7:

7Y = 3Z

Now we have two equations:

X/2 = 3Y (Equation 1)
7Y = 3Z (Equation 2)

To find the number of markers left in the box, we need to solve these equations simultaneously.

Unfortunately, we don't have enough information to solve for X, Y, and Z. We only have two equations and three variables. We would need one more equation or piece of information to find the specific values of X, Y, and Z.