Jackie began her day with a pocketful of jelly beans. She gave half of them to her friend Marcus, and then a third of what she had left to Shelby. Finally, she and her sister each ate five jellybeans and no jellybeans remained. How many jellybeans did she give to Marcus?

18 Jellybeans

a. 15 Jellybeans.

b. 12 Jellybeans

c. 24 Jellybeans

d. 24 Jellybeans.

a. 15 Jellybeans.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let "a pocketful of jelly beans" = x jelly beans.

"She gave half of them to her friend Marcus"

Now she has x/2 jelly beans left.

"and then a third of what she had left to Shelby"

If she gives away 1/3 of an amount, she has left 2/3 of the amount.

Now she has (2/3) (x/2) = x/3

She now has 1/3 of the original amount.

"Finally, she and her sister each ate five jellybeans and no jellybeans remained."

They ate a total of 10 jelly beans, and none were left.

The amount remaining, x/3 was 10.

x/3 = 10

Multiply both sides by 3:

x = 30

She started with 30 jellybeans.

"She gave half of them to her friend Marcus"

30/2 = 15

Answer: a. 15 Jellybeans

a. 15 Jellybeans.

Step-by-step explanation:

Jackie began her day with a pocketful of jelly beans (we will call the jelly beans X incognita).

She gave half of them to her friend Marcus (So, she now have 1/2X or 3/6X)

and then a third of what she had left to Shelby (a third of the half left: (1/2 - 1/3) X=1/6X is what she gave to Shelby from the starting amount).

Finally, she and her sister each ate five jellybeans and no jellybeans remained (this means, 10 jelly beans represent two-sixth of the initial amount of JB half: 10 = 2/6X)

How many jellybeans did she give to Marcus?

If you use that last equation

10 = (2/6) X

And clear the X

X = 30 jelly beans

That's the starting amount. Marcus recibed half of it, so he has 15 jelly beans.