<PRE><B>Question 1121545</B>
&lt;br&gt;
Box Y has half as many as box Z, so...&lt;br&gt;
let n = number in box Y
then 2n = number in box Z&lt;br&gt;
Since the total number in the three boxes is 300...&lt;br&gt;
then 300-3n = number in box X&lt;br&gt;
Now Bob takes 1/3 of the pens out of box X; the number now in box X is&lt;br&gt;
(300-3n)-(1/3)(300-3n) = 200-2n&lt;br&gt;
He also triples the number in box Y; the number now in box Y is 3n.&lt;br&gt;
We know that X and Y now have the same number, so&lt;br&gt;
200-2n = 3n
200 = 5n
n = 40&lt;br&gt;
The number now in boxes X and Y is 3n = 200-2n = 120.&lt;br&gt;
Then, since we know all three boxes now have the same number, the total now is 360.</PRE>