Hilda and Jane had a total of 154 stamps. Jane gave ¹₄ of her stamps to Hilda. In return, Hilda gave ¹₈ of the total number of stamps that she had to Jane. In the end, each girl had the same number of stamps. How many stamps did Hilda have at first?

	Hilda	Jane	Total
Before 1	?	4 u	154
Change 1	+ 1 u	- 1 u
After 1	88	3 u	154
Before 2	8 p	3 u	154
Change 2	- 1 p	+ 1 p
After 2	7 p (77)	77	154

Since Jane gave some stamps to Hilda and Hilda then gave some stamps to Jane, it is an internal transfer of stamps between the two girls. So, the total number of stamps remains unchanged.

Number of stamps that Jane and Hilda each had in the end is the same.

Number of stamps that Hilda had in the end
= 154 ÷ 2
= 77

Number of stamps that Hilda had in the end = 7 p

7 p = 77

1 p = 77 ÷ 7 = 11

Number of stamps that Hilda had after receiving some stamps from Jane
= 8 p
= 8 x 11
= 88

Number of stamps that Jane had after giving to Hilda
= 154 - 88
= 66

3 u = 66

1 u = 66 ÷ 3 = 22

Number of stamps that Jane had at first
= 4 u
= 4 x 22
= 88

Number of stamps that Hilda had at first
= 154 - 88
= 66

Answer(s): 66