I have this word problem i need help with if anyone can tell me what to do and show me how to do it then can you tell me? thank you soooo much!!!!

so heres the problem:

Three travelers came to a tavern and ordered a dish of potatoes. when the landlord brought in the dish of potatoes, the men were all asleep. The first of the travelers to wake up at 1/3 of the potatoes and went about to sleep without disturbing his companions. Then another awoke and not realizing that one of his companions had already eaten, ate a third of those that he found, and went to sleep again. Finally the third man did the same, eating a third of the potatoes that were there and going back to sleep. When the landlord came to clean the table he found 8 potatoes. How many did that landlord bring in originally?

if anyone can please help me, explain it to me i will automatically if you best answerOk cuz the answer is 27 potatoes. Just think of it like this and work backwards: The travelers eat 1/3, so that means 2/3 are left. So 8 is 2/3 of 12. Then 12 is 2/3 of 18. Then 18 is 2/3 of 27. Now check it. Find 1/3 of 27, and since the traveler ate that amout, subtract it from 27. Keep doing this for the other 1/3 and 1/3.8 is 2/3 of 12. As shown below in the ratio.

2/3 = 8/x

x = number of potatoes.

Just find what 12 is 2/3 of.

2/3 = 12/x

So, using the shortcut method, it comes to...

(3 x 12) / 2 = x


And keep going on like that.