Each year for 4 years, a farmer increased the number of trees in a certain orchard by 1/4 of the number of trees in the orchard of the preceding year. If all of the trees thrived and there were 5625 trees in the orchard at the end of 4 year period, how many trees were in the orchard at the beginning of the 4 year period.
Options.
A) 2304  B) 2305  C) 2309  D) 2310  E) 2311
Trees increase by 1/4 the number of trees in preceding year. Hence, correct answer must be divisible by 4. Based on divisibility rules, if last 2 digits are divisible by 4 then the number is divisible by 4. Thus, we can eliminate B, C,D,E The answer to be A   Again, trees increase by 1/4 the number of trees in preceding year. Hence, the number of trees increase by 5/4 times the number of trees the preceding year.   If x = initial number of trees = 2304   Year 1 = 5/4x   Year 2 = (5/4)(5/4)x   Year 3 = (5/4)(5/4)(5/4)x   Year 4 = (5/4)(5/4)(5/4)(5/4)x   Only for 2304nswer D: (5/4)(5/4)(5/4)(5/4)2304 = 5625   Hence, correct answer = 2304
<result>A</result>
Each year for 4 years, a farmer increased the number of trees in a certain orchard by 1/4 of the number of trees in the orchard of the preceding year. If all of the trees thrived and there were 5625 trees in the orchard at the end of 4 year period, how many trees were in the orchard at the beginning of the 4 year period.