Ask Marilyn

To William B. of Hudson, Wisconsin, Dan H. of Springfield, Massachusetts, Rick H. of Hagerstown, Maryland, Dan L. of Chesterfield, Virginia, Jim L. of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Chuck M. of Wichita, Kansas, Gene S. of Clearwater, Florida, William V. of Sachse, Texas, Ron Z. of Johnson City, Tennessee, and everyone whose email about this subject I haven't read yet--

Marilyn responds:

The answer to the fishing lures puzzle was correct as published. (October 11, 2009) Here's the question again:

"Kevin, Gavin, and Alvin have 36 fishing lures among them. Kevin has 1-1/2 as many as Gavin, and Alvin has 1-1/3 as many as Kevin. What one filch can make them all equal?"

I wrote, "Gavin can swipe four of Alvins lures. (G + 1-1/2G + 2G = 36, so Gavin has eight lures, Kevin has twelve, and Alvin has sixteen lures.)"

The equation describes the distribution of lures: G (Gavin) plus 1-1/2G (Kevin) plus 2G (Alvin, who has 1-1/3 as many as Kevin's 1-1/2G, which is the same as 2G) equals 36 lures.

Which means that Gavin has 8 lures, Kevin has 12 lures (1-1/2 x 8), and Alvin has 16 lures (2 x 8).

So if Gavin swipes four of Alvin's lures, all three guys will have a dozen lures.