Answer:
a. What is the amount of a gain or loss on realization?
cash balance - total capital accounts = $38,000 - ($30,000 + $20,000) = -$12,000
loss of $12,000
b. How should the gain or loss be divided between Hewitt and Patel?
the losses will be divided equally, so Hewitt and Patel will each be assigned $6,000 in losses
c. How should the cash be divided between Hewitt and Patel?
Hewitt will receive = $30,000 - $6,000 = $24,000
Patel will receive = $20,000 - $6,000 = $14,000
total distributed = $38,000