Lucy and Linda had a total of 30 stickers. Linda gave ¹₃ of her stickers to Lucy. In return, Lucy gave ¹₆ of the total number of stickers that she had to Linda. In the end, each girl had the same number of stickers. How many stickers did Lucy have at first?

	Lucy	Linda	Total
Before 1	?	3 u	30
Change 1	+ 1 u	- 1 u
After 1	18	2 u	30
Before 2	6 p	2 u	30
Change 2	- 1 p	+ 1 p
After 2	5 p (15)	15	30

Since Linda gave some stickers to Lucy and Lucy then gave some stickers to Linda, it is an internal transfer of stickers between the two girls. So, the total number of stickers remains unchanged.

Number of stickers that Linda and Lucy each had in the end is the same.

Number of stickers that Lucy had in the end
= 30 ÷ 2
= 15

Number of stickers that Lucy had in the end = 5 p

5 p = 15

1 p = 15 ÷ 5 = 3

Number of stickers that Lucy had after receiving some stickers from Linda
= 6 p
= 6 x 3
= 18

Number of stickers that Linda had after giving to Lucy
= 30 - 18
= 12

2 u = 12

1 u = 12 ÷ 2 = 6

Number of stickers that Linda had at first
= 3 u
= 3 x 6
= 18

Number of stickers that Lucy had at first
= 30 - 18
= 12

Answer(s): 12