MEDIUM) Ana gave Bill and Clare as much money as each had. Then Bill gave Ana and Clare as much money as each had. Then Clare gave Ana and Bill as much money as each had. Then each of the three people had $24. How much money did each have to begin with

At the very end, the amounts of money are:

A -- 24

B -- 24

C -- 24

If A and B received as much as they had just prior to the last transaction, they must each have received 12 and they must have received it from C, so at the end of the previous step, the situation must have been:

A -- 12 (24 minus 12)

B -- 12 (24 minus 12)

C -- 48 (24 plus 12 plus 12)

Before that, A and C got half of what they had above from B, so:

A -- 6 (12 minus 6)

B -- 42 (12 plus 6 plus 24)

C -- 24 (48 minus 24)

And initially, B and C got half of what they had above from A, so:

A -- 39 (6 plus 21 plus 12)

B -- 21 (42 minus 21)

C -- 12 (24 minus 12)

Step-by-step explanation: