R&N is a new candy with magical (yet mathematical) properties. Not all candies are the same size. When removing the largest R&N from a new bag, the bag becomes 1/2 full; removing the second largest makes the bg 1/3 full; removing the third largest makes it 1/4 full, and so on. Dr. Lutinski opens a new bag on Monday and eats the largest candy. On Tuesday he eats the next few largest, leaving 5/14 fewer than on Monday. How many did Dr. Lutinski eat?

Answer 1

Ya got me

On Monday there was 1/2 bag left.
That means 7/14 are left. If he is to eat a few more, then that means there are only 7/14 - 5/14 = 2/14 left after Tuesday's chow-down.

But, the next largest candy leaves 1/3 of the bag full. 1/3 > 2/14, so eh?

is that 1/3 of the original amount, or 1/3 of the starting amount on Tuesday?

Does "5/14 fewer" mean 5/14 of the original amount, or 5/14 of the 1/2-bag at the dawn of Tuesday?