The ratio of Joseph's coin s to Jake's coins is 5:2. The ratio of Stephens coins to Jake's coin is 4:9. If Jake is 36 coins, how many coins do they have altogether?
j:e = 5:2
s:j = 4:9
j=36, so
36:e = 5:2
s:36 = 4:9 = 16:36
so, s=16
Now we have
36:e = 5:2
I don't like that, since 36 is not a multiple of 5.