Let a, b, c represent the number of shares of A, B, and C that Shanika owns.
.. 5.50a +9.00b +10.00c = 850 . . . . . . the current value of Shanika's investment
.. b = a/2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . half as many shares of B as of A
.. c = b/2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . half as many shares of C as of B
Substituting, we have
.. 5.50a +9.00(a/2) +10.00(a/4) = 850
.. a = 850/(5.50 +4.50 +2.50) = 68
.. b = 68/2 = 34
.. c = 34/2 = 17
Shanika owns
68 shares of A
34 shares of B
17 shares of C