Question

Your team lost 47 pounds at the weigh in. You know you lost 12 pounds. Your sister let it slip that she lost 1 pound more than your mother. How much did your mother lose?

Answer 1

Your mother lost 17 pounds because 47-12=35. Then I did 35 divided by 2 and got 17.5. Next I deducted what the two numbers could be. The numbers were 17 and 18. Therefore your mother lost 17 pounds. 

Answer 2

If your team consisted of only you, your sister, and your mother, then your mother would have lost 17 pounds, and your sister would have lost 18 pounds.