Jeremy and Wesley gave away the same number of buttons. Jeremy gave away ³₅ of his buttons while Wesley gave ⁵₉ of his buttons away. Given that Jeremy had 18 buttons less than Wesley at first, how many buttons did Jeremy have at first?

	Jeremy	Wesley
Before	5x5 = 25 u	9x3 = 27 u
Change	- 3x5 = - 15 u	- 5x3 = - 15 u
After	2x5 = 10 u	4x3 = 12 u

The number of buttons that Jeremy and Wesley gave away is the same.  Make the number of buttons that Jeremy and Wesley gave away the same. LCM of 3 and 5 is 15.

Number of buttons that Jeremy had at first = 25 u
Number of buttons that Wesley had at first = 27 u

Number of buttons that Jeremy had less than Wesley at first
= 27 u - 25 u
= 2 u

2 u = 18

1 u = 18 ÷ 2 = 9

Number of buttons that Jeremy had at first
= 25 u
= 25 x 9
= 225

Answer(s): 225