Wendy and Elyse have some shortbreads each. If Wendy gives Elyse 27 shortbreads, Wendy will have ¹₄ as many shortbreads as Elyse. If Wendy gives Elyse 19 shortbreads, they will have an equal number of shortbreads. How many shortbreads does Wendy have at first?

	Case 1		Case 2
	Wendy	Elyse	Wendy	Elyse
Before	1 u + 27	4 u - 27	2.5 u + 19	2.5 u - 19
Change	- 27	+ 27	- 19	+ 19
After	1 u	4 u	2.5 u	2.5 u

Total number of shortbreads that Wendy and Elyse have
= 1 u + 4 u
= 5 u 

Number of shortbreads that Wendy and Elyse each has in the end is the same.

Number of shortbreads that Wendy and Elyse each has in the end in Case 2
= 5 u ÷ 2
= 2.5 u

Number of shortbreads that Wendy had at first is the same in Case 1 and Case 2.

2.5 u + 19 = 1 u + 27
2.5 u - 1 u = 27 - 19
0.5 u = 8

1 u = 8 ÷ 0.5 = 16

Number of shortbreads that Wendy has
= 1 u + 27
= 1 x 16 + 27
= 16 + 27
= 43

Answer(s): 43