Problem Sums

Date: 5/31/96 at 12:31:18
From: Anonymous
Subject: problem sums

May has 20 sweets. John has 36 more than May while Peter has 20 less 
than May. If they give half of their sweets to Mary, how many sweets 
will Mary have?

Date: 5/31/96 at 19:14:16
From: Doctor Anthony
Subject: Re: Problem Sums

List the information in a table.

 May    20 sweets
 John   56 sweets  (36 more than May has)
 Peter   0 sweets  (20 less than May has)

Half of May's sweets =  10
Half of John's sweets = 28
Half of Peter's sweets = 0 

Total of these is 38, so Mary has 38 sweets.

-Doctor Anthony,  The Math Forum
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