Question

Ramesh has five boxes containing 4, 8, 9, 12 and 100 red and blue marbles. One box contains only red marbles; another contains only blue marbles; while the other three contain both red and blue marbles. When his younger brother Rakesh took a box, Ramesh exclaimed “Now, I have an equal number of red and blue marbles!” Which box did Rakesh take?

Answer 1

The number of marbles left with Ramesh must be divisible by 2 because he claimed that he has equal number of red and blue marbles after Rakesh took away one box.

This is only possible if Rakesh took away the box with 9 marbles.

This leaves Ramesh with a total of 4 + 8 + 12 + 100 = 124 marbles.

Thanks!!