Zoe and Joelle have some macarons each. If Zoe gives Joelle 17 macarons, Zoe will have ¹₂ as many macarons as Joelle. If Zoe gives Joelle 13 macarons, they will have an equal number of macarons. How many macarons does Zoe have at first?

	Case 1		Case 2
	Zoe	Joelle	Zoe	Joelle
Before	1 u + 17	2 u - 17	1.5 u + 13	1.5 u - 13
Change	- 17	+ 17	- 13	+ 13
After	1 u	2 u	1.5 u	1.5 u

Total number of macarons that Zoe and Joelle have
= 1 u + 2 u
= 3 u 

Number of macarons that Zoe and Joelle each has in the end is the same.

Number of macarons that Zoe and Joelle each has in the end in Case 2
= 3 u ÷ 2
= 1.5 u

Number of macarons that Zoe had at first is the same in Case 1 and Case 2.

1.5 u + 13 = 1 u + 17
1.5 u - 1 u = 17 - 13
0.5 u = 4

1 u = 4 ÷ 0.5 = 8

Number of macarons that Zoe has
= 1 u + 17
= 1 x 8 + 17
= 8 + 17
= 25

Answer(s): 25