I have a tin of chocolates to share with some friends. In the tin are four types of chocolate — one type in red wrappers, one type in blue, one type in green and one type in yellow, with equal numbers of each.
The tin is passed around in turn from friend to friend. When the tin gets to them:
• John always takes three red chocolates.
• Peter always takes one of each colour.
• Jane always takes one yellow chocolate.
• I always take two green chocolates.
After six passings around the tin, half of the chocolates remaining in the tin are blue.
How many chocolates were there in the tin when it was full?
Full explanation
The tin contains 4 types of chocolates (Red, Blue, Yellow and Green) in equal numbers of each.
In each passing among 4 individuals, the following quantity is taken;
3R (John), 1R-1G-1Y-1B (Peter), 1Y (Jane), 2G (Tin owner)
In total : 4R-2Y-1B-3G
That amount of chocolate is taken from the tin 6 times.
Therefore, after 6th passing, 24R-12Y-6B-18G of chocolates are taken.
Given : After six passings around the tin, half of the chocolates remaining in the tin are blue.
Suppose the tin contains 24 chocolate each type (number taken from 24R), then, it is 24R-24G-24Y-24B. Since 24R-12Y-6B-18G are taken after 6 passings, 12Y-18B-6G remains which is in accordance with the last given fact : half of remains are blue.
Thus, we can be sure that the tin contains 24 each type, so, in total, 96 chocolates.