Charlie\textquotesingle s 1/4 is 9, so Charlie gets 4\times 9=36 dollars, and Alex is left with 36+36=72 dollars, so he spends 76-72=4 dollars 
Alex had $76.  He spent some of it in a shop.  Then he gave half of what he had left to Charlie.  Charlie spent a quarter of what Alex gave him on lunch.  Charlie spent $9 on lunch.  How much did Alex spend in the shop? 
A) $4 
B) $12 
C) $14 
D) $36 
E) $40 