Emily spent 1/2 of her money at the grocery store. Then, she spent 1/2 of what was left at the baker. Next she spent 1/2 of what was left on a cd. She spent the remaining $6.00 on lunch. How much money did she start with ?

Question

Emily spent 1/2 of her money at the grocery store. Then, she spent 1/2 of what was left at the baker. Next she spent 1/2 of what was left on a cd. She spent the remaining $6.00 on lunch. How much money did she start with ?

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Answer 1

Or....

amount at the start ---- x
amount left after grocery store ---- x/2
spent x/4 at baker, amount left = x/4
spent 1/2 of that or x/8 on CD, amount left = x/8

so x/8 = 6
x = 48

Looks like the bot or AI is wrong!

check:
after grocery amount left = 24
after baker, amount left = 12
after buying CD amount left = 6, which she spent on lunch
my answer is correct

Answer 2

Let's work backwards. If she spent $6 on lunch and had nothing left, then before lunch she must have had:

$6 left after buying the CD and 1/2 of what was left after buying from the baker

Let x be the amount of money she had before buying lunch. Then:

1/2 (1/2 (1/2 x - 6)) = 6

Simplifying:

1/2 (1/4 x - 3) = 6

1/4 x - 3 = 12

1/4 x = 15

x = 60

So Emily started with $60.