Linda and Joelle had a total of 140 stickers. Joelle gave ¹₆ of her stickers to Linda. In return, Linda gave ¹₈ of the total number of stickers that she had to Joelle. In the end, each girl had the same number of stickers. How many stickers did Linda have at first?

	Linda	Joelle	Total
Before 1	?	6 u	140
Change 1	+ 1 u	- 1 u
After 1	80	5 u	140
Before 2	8 p	5 u	140
Change 2	- 1 p	+ 1 p
After 2	7 p (70)	70	140

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

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

Number of stickers that Linda had in the end
= 140 ÷ 2
= 70

Number of stickers that Linda had in the end = 7 p

7 p = 70

1 p = 70 ÷ 7 = 10

Number of stickers that Linda had after receiving some stickers from Joelle
= 8 p
= 8 x 10
= 80

Number of stickers that Joelle had after giving to Linda
= 140 - 80
= 60

5 u = 60

1 u = 60 ÷ 5 = 12

Number of stickers that Joelle had at first
= 6 u
= 6 x 12
= 72

Number of stickers that Linda had at first
= 140 - 72
= 68

Answer(s): 68