Question: Frank picked 36 apples. Susan picked 3 times as many apples as Frank. If Susan gave out half of her apples, and Frank sold a third of his, how many in total do they have left? Think carefully first, then make a decision:
Susan picked 3 times as much as 36 which is 3 * 36 = 108 apples. She gave out half which is 108 * (1 / 2) = 54 apples. She now has 108 - 54 = 54 apples. Frank sold a third of 36 which is 36 * (1 / 3) = 12 apples. Frank now has 36 - 12 = 24 apples. Altogether they now have 54 + 24 = 78 apples. So the answer is 78.