Question

Kent spends half his money on lunch and then spends $1.50 for a magazine. He uses one third of what he has to pay for the bus ride home, then gives his little brother a quarter. If Kent has three nickels and two quarters
left, how much money did he have before lunch

Answer 1

x = ((.65+.25)(3/2)+1.50)(2) = 5.70

check:
start: 5.70
after lunch: 2.85
after magazine: 1.35
after bus: .90
after brother: .65

Or, working from the other end,

(x/2-1.50)(2/3)-.25 = .65