Cindy and Mary have some macarons each. If Cindy gives Mary 24 macarons, Cindy will have ²₃ as many macarons as Mary. If Cindy gives Mary 5 macarons, they will have an equal number of macarons. How many macarons does Mary have at first?

	Case 1		Case 2
	Cindy	Mary	Cindy	Mary
Before	2 u + 24	3 u - 24	2.5 u + 5	2.5 u - 5
Change	- 24	+ 24	- 5	+ 5
After	2 u	3 u	2.5 u	2.5 u

Total number of macarons that Cindy and Mary have
= 2 u + 3 u
= 5 u 

Number of macarons that Cindy and Mary each has in the end is the same.

Number of macarons that Cindy and Mary each has in the end in Case 2
= 5 u ÷ 2
= 2.5 u

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

2.5 u + 5 = 2 u + 24
2.5 u - 2 u = 24 - 5
0.5 u = 19

1 u = 19 ÷ 0.5 = 38

Number of macarons that Mary has
= 3 u - 24
= 3 x 38 - 24
= 114 - 24
= 90

Answer(s): 90