Zoe and Min had a total of 60 stamps. Min gave ¹₄ of her stamps to Zoe. In return, Zoe gave ¹₆ of the total number of stamps that she had to Min. In the end, each girl had the same number of stamps. How many stamps did Zoe have at first?

	Zoe	Min	Total
Before 1	?	4 u	60
Change 1	+ 1 u	- 1 u
After 1	36	3 u	60
Before 2	6 p	3 u	60
Change 2	- 1 p	+ 1 p
After 2	5 p (30)	30	60

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

Number of stamps that Min and Zoe each had in the end is the same.

Number of stamps that Zoe had in the end
= 60 ÷ 2
= 30

Number of stamps that Zoe had in the end = 5 p

5 p = 30

1 p = 30 ÷ 5 = 6

Number of stamps that Zoe had after receiving some stamps from Min
= 6 p
= 6 x 6
= 36

Number of stamps that Min had after giving to Zoe
= 60 - 36
= 24

3 u = 24

1 u = 24 ÷ 3 = 8

Number of stamps that Min had at first
= 4 u
= 4 x 8
= 32

Number of stamps that Zoe had at first
= 60 - 32
= 28

Answer(s): 28