It's the civil war and General Lee has a huge army. He split it into two parts keeping 1/3 under his command and giving 2/3 to his trusted general Stonewell Jackson (do not count generally or Jackson themselves in any calculations) General Lee fights a battle and lose 30% of his men General Jackson runs into a strong union army and loses 30% of his men. They rejoin and now have 805 men. How many did general Lee start with.

Question

It's the civil war and  General Lee has a huge army. He split it into two parts keeping 1/3 under his command and giving 2/3 to his  trusted general Stonewell Jackson (do not count generally or Jackson themselves in any calculations) General Lee fights a battle and lose 30% of his men General Jackson runs into a strong union army  and loses 30% of his men. They rejoin and now have 805 men. How many did general Lee start with.

bobpursley · Answer

let Army be the original total Lee lost=Army*1/3*.3 Jackson lost=Army*2/3*.3 those left= original - losses or 805=Army-Army*1/3*.3 - Army*2/3*.3 805=army(1-.1-.2)=army*.7 army=805/.7= ....