Kimberly had the same number of yellow, brown and purple marbles at first. After giving some yellow and brown marbles and 55 purple marbles away, Kimberly had 247 marbles left. There were 2 times as many yellow marbles as brown marbles left. The number of purple marbles left was 38 fewer than the number of yellow marbles left. How many purple marbles did she have at first?

	Brown	Yellow	Purple	Total
Before	2 u + 17	2 u + 17	2 u + 17
Change	- 1 u - 17	- 17	- 55
After	1 u	2 u	2 u - 38	247

Kimberly had the same number of yellow, brown and purple marbles at first.

Total number of marbles in the end
= 1 u + 2 u + 2 u - 38
= 5 u - 38

5 u - 38 = 247
5 u = 247 + 38
5 u = 285

1 u = 285 ÷ 5 = 57

Number of purple marbles that Kimberly had at first
= 2 u - 38 + 55
= 2 u + 17
= 2 x 57 + 17
= 131

Answer(s): 131