If 'take away 3' means 'giving away the 3' to another then the answer is two (2) apples.
Otherwise,
If 'take away 3' means 'keeping the 3' to yourself and sharing the five (5) apples, the answer is three (3) apples.
However, if 'take away 3' means 'keeping the 3' to yourself and still have the five (5) apples then the answer is eight (8) apples.
You have 3 apples! You have 3 apples!
3
5 apples because you took the 3 away
2 apples because if WE TAKE 2 apples then WE HAVE 3 apples.
2 apples
You have 3 apples! You have 3 apples!
3 apples
3
5 apples take away 3 apples leaves you with 2 apples5-3=2 If you have 5 apples and you take away 3, you have 3 apples. Its a play on words.
5 apples because you took the 3 away
2 apples because if WE TAKE 2 apples then WE HAVE 3 apples.
2 apples
3
3 apples
You have a total of seven apples.
YOU would have 3 apples. You see, there are 5 apples, but you don't have those apples, if you take 3 away, then you are taking 3 of those apples, which then you have 3 apples, and you leave 2 left over.
3