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 most appropriate option: A) 1287 B) 1285 C) 1283 D) 1280 E) 1281

Rationale: "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 , e the answer to be d 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 = 1280 year 1 = 5 / 4 x 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 ) 1280 = 3125 hence , correct answer = d"
Answer: D