Short Story – Level 1 – Medium

The Ration Mystery on Mars

In the year 2134, humanity’s first permanent colony on Mars, Astra-6, had grown to 200 settlers. Life was harsh but organized – especially when it came to food rations.

Every week, the colony’s kitchen team prepared standard meal packs, each containing three types of baked goods: croissants, muffins, and tarts – all made from Martian-grown grains and protein-infused algae flour.

One morning, a logistics officer named Kai discovered an unlabeled supply container at Dock C. The manifest was missing, and no one could remember how many of each item had been packed.

He called in Lina, the station’s resident mathematician.

“I need to know exactly what was in this container,” Kai said. “I’ve checked the kitchen logs and found three notes left by the chef.”

Lina raised an eyebrow. “Let’s hear them.”

Kai read aloud:

1. “If you take three times the number of croissants and add the number of muffins, you get 22 items.”
2. “If you take twice the number of tarts and add the croissants, you get 16 items.”
3. “Altogether, there were 20 baked goods.”

Lina smiled. “That’s all I need.”