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 3125 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. Choose the correct choice from the following answers:  A) 1631  B) 1531  C) 1533  D) 1535  E) 1536
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 A, B, C,D The answer to be E   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 = 1536   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 Answer D: (5/4)(5/4)(5/4)(5/4)1536 = 3750   Hence, correct answer = 1536
<result>E</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 3125 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.