Fred and Joe had a total of 432 match boxes. Fred gave 2/5 of his match boxes to Joe and then Joe gave 1/4 of the total number of match boxes she had to Fred. Both of them had the same number of match boxes in the end. How many match boxes did Fred have at first?
Fred had F Joe had 432-F
Fred gave 2/5 (0.4) of his match boxes to Joe
So now Fred has 0.6F and Joe has 432-F+0.4F = 432-0.6F
then Joe gave 1/4 of the total number of match boxes she had to Fred
So now Fred has 0.6F+0.25(432-0.6F) = 0.6F+108-0.15F = 0.45F+108
And Joe has 0.75(432-0.6F)=324-0.45F
Both of them had the same number of match boxes in the end.
324-0.45F=0.45F+108
216 = 0.9F
F =240
So fred had 240 to start with.
Check :
If fred had 240 then Joe had 432-240= 192
Fred gave 2/5 of 240 = 96 to Joe
so Fred now has 240-96=144 and Joe has 192+96=288
Joe have a 1/4 to Fred
Fred now has 144+(1/4 of 288) = 216 and Jow has (3/4) * 288 = 216
GOOD They have botyh got the same :))