Bryan had ³₄ as many stamps as Wesley. Wesley had ⁴₇ as many stamps as Hilda. After Bryan and Hilda gave 18 stamps to Wesley, Wesley had thrice as many stamps as Bryan. Hilda then had the same number of stamps as Wesley.

1. What was the ratio of the number of stamps Bryan had to the number of stamps Hilda had in the beginning? Answer in simplest form.
2. How many stamps did Wesley have in the end?

Bryan	Wesley	Hilda
3	4
	4	7
3	4	7

(a)
The number of stamps that Wesley is repeated.  

Ratio of the number of stamps that Bryan had to the number of stamps that Hilda had in the beginning = 3 : 7

	Bryan	Wesley	Hilda	Total
Before	3x1 = 3 u	4x1 = 4 u	7x1 = 7 u	14x1 = 14 u
Change	- 18	+ 36	- 18
After	1x2 = 2 u	3x2 = 6 u	3x2 = 6 u	7x2 = 14 u

The total number of stamps at first and in the end remains unchanged. Make the total number of stamps the same. LCM of 14 and 7 is 14.

Number of stamps that Wesley received from Bryan and Hilda
= 2 x 18
= 36

Number of stamps that Wesley received from Bryan and Hilda
= 2 x 1 u
= 2 u

2 u = 18

1 u = 18 ÷ 2 = 9

Number of stamps that Ashley had in the end
= 6 u
= 6 x 9
= 54