Mint Problem

My Weekend with Mints

I went to a restaurant this weekend…

My family loves to joke around…So,

this is what we did…

As we left we...

•I took one-third of the mints.

•I returned four.

•My wife took 1/4 of what was left.

•My wife returned three.

•Gabby then took half of the remainder.

•Gabby threw two back into the bowl.

•There were 17 mints left in the bowl. How many

mints were in the bowl originally?

I took one-third of the mints.

II II

and I returned four

My wife then took one-fourth of what was left.

II II

My wife returned three

I II

Gabby then took half of the remainder.

II III II

Gabby threw two back into the bowl.

II

17 mints left in the bowl

4 mints 4 mints

4 mints

Minus the 5 we have in the bowl

is 12!

4 mints

4 mints

16 x 3 = 48 mints