Pamela bought four times as many cupcakes as Lee. After Pamela ate 3 cupcakes, she had 9 more cupcakes than Lee. How many cupcakes did they buy altogether?
| |
Pamela |
Lee |
Total |
| Before |
4 u |
1 u |
5 u |
| Change |
- 3 |
|
|
| After |
4 u - 3 |
1 u |
|
The number of cupcakes that Lee had remains unchanged.
If Lee had another 9 cupcakes in the end, the number of cupcakes that Pamela and Lee had would be the same.
4 u - 3 = 1 u + 9
4 u - 1 u = 9 + 3
3 u = 12
1 u = 12 ÷ 3 = 4
Total number of cupcakes
= 4 u + 1 u
= 5 u
= 5 x 4
= 20
Answer(s): 20
