Vanessa had the same number of green, gold and white marbles at first. After giving some green and gold marbles and 72 white marbles away, Vanessa had 229 marbles left. There were 3 times as many green marbles as gold marbles left. The number of white marbles left was 37 fewer than the number of green marbles left. How many white marbles did she have at first?

	Gold	Green	White	Total
Before	3 u + 35	3 u + 35	3 u + 35
Change	- 2 u - 35	- 35	- 72
After	1 u	3 u	3 u - 37	229

Vanessa had the same number of green, gold and white marbles at first.

Total number of marbles in the end
= 1 u + 3 u + 3 u - 37
= 7 u - 37

7 u - 37 = 229
7 u = 229 + 37
7 u = 266

1 u = 266 ÷ 7 = 38

Number of white marbles that Vanessa had at first
= 3 u - 37 + 72
= 3 u + 35
= 3 x 38 + 35
= 149

Answer(s): 149