Elijah and Valen shared some stickers in the ratio of 3 : 8. After both each gave away 44 stickers to their sister, the ratio of the number of stickers Elijah had to the total number of stickers left was 1 : 5. How many stickers did the two boys have at first?

	Elijah	Valen	Difference
Before	3x3 = 9 u	8x3 = 24 u	5x3 = 15 u
Change	- 44	- 44
After	1x5 = 5 u	4x5 = 20 u	3x5 = 15 u

Number of stickers that Elijah and Valen each gave to their sister is the same.

The difference in the number of stickers at first and in the end between Elijah and Valen remains unchanged.  Make the difference in the number of stickers the same.  LCM of 5 and 3 is 15.

Number of stickers that Elijah gave to their sister
= 9 u - 5 u
= 4 u

4 u = 44

1 u = 44 ÷ 4 = 11

Number of stickers that the two boys had at first
= 9 u + 24 u
= 33 u
= 33 x 11
= 363

Answer(s): 363