<PRE><B>Question 1210597</B>
&lt;br&gt;
FAULTY DATA!!&lt;br&gt;
Choose a variable:
x = number Noah sold&lt;br&gt;
The number Noah had left was 2/3 the number he sold:
(2/3)x = number Noah had left&lt;br&gt;
Liam sold &quot;2/5 fewer&quot; than Noah -- i.e., he sold 3/5 AS MANY as Noah:
(3/5)x = number Liam sold&lt;br&gt;
Then...&lt;br&gt;
x + (3/5)x = (8/5)x = total sold&lt;br&gt;
540-(8/5)x = total remaining&lt;br&gt;
Liam&#39;s remaining stamps were 4/7 of the total remaining, so Noah&#39;s remaining stamps were 3/7 of the total remaining:&lt;br&gt;
{{{(2/3)x=(3/7)(540-(8/5)x)}}}&lt;br&gt;
multiply by 21 to clear fractions&lt;br&gt;
{{{14x=9(540-(8/5)x)}}}
{{{14x=4860-(72/5)x}}}
{{{70x=24300-72x}}}
{{{142x=24300}}}&lt;br&gt;
x = 24300/142 = 171 9/71&lt;br&gt;
Obviously the answer should be a positive integer....&lt;br&gt;
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