Rachel and Marion had a total of 168 stamps. Marion gave ¹₄ of her stamps to Rachel. In return, Rachel gave ¹₈ of the total number of stamps that she had to Marion. In the end, each girl had the same number of stamps. How many stamps did Rachel have at first?

	Rachel	Marion	Total
Before 1	?	4 u	168
Change 1	+ 1 u	- 1 u
After 1	96	3 u	168
Before 2	8 p	3 u	168
Change 2	- 1 p	+ 1 p
After 2	7 p (84)	84	168

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

Number of stamps that Marion and Rachel each had in the end is the same.

Number of stamps that Rachel had in the end
= 168 ÷ 2
= 84

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

7 p = 84

1 p = 84 ÷ 7 = 12

Number of stamps that Rachel had after receiving some stamps from Marion
= 8 p
= 8 x 12
= 96

Number of stamps that Marion had after giving to Rachel
= 168 - 96
= 72

3 u = 72

1 u = 72 ÷ 3 = 24

Number of stamps that Marion had at first
= 4 u
= 4 x 24
= 96

Number of stamps that Rachel had at first
= 168 - 96
= 72

Answer(s): 72