The document describes a scenario where a family jokes around at a restaurant by taking turns removing and returning mints from a bowl, until there were 17 mints left. It then presents the steps taken: the author took 1/3 of the original mints, returned 4; their wife took 1/4 of the remaining mints and returned 3; their daughter Gabby took half of what was left and threw 2 back. The question asks how many mints were originally in the bowl.

1. My Weekend with Mints

2. I went to a restaurant this weekend…
My family loves to joke around…So,
this is what we did…

3. As we left we...

4. •I took one-third of the mints.
•I returned four.
•My wife took 1/4 of what was left.
•My wife returned three.
•Gabby then took half of the remainder.
•Gabby threw two back into the bowl.
•There were 17 mints left in the bowl. How many
mints were in the bowl originally?

5. I took one-third of the mints.
I I I I
and I returned four

6. My wife then took one-fourth of what was left.
I I I
I I I I
My wife returned three

7. Gabby then took half of the remainder.
17 mints left in the bowl
Minus 16 x 3 = 4 mints
the 5 we 48 mints
have in 4 mints
the bowl
is 12! 4 mints
I I
I I I
4 mints 4 mints
I I I I
Gabby threw two back into the bowl.