Joelle made 68 more cream shortbreads than strawberry shortbreads. After she gave away ⁴₇ of the cream shortbreads and ¹₆ of the strawberry shortbreads, there were an equal number of cream shortbreads and strawberry shortbreads left. How many cream shortbreads did she give away?

	Cream shortbreads	Strawberry shortbreads	Difference
Before	7x5 = 35 u	6x3 = 18 u	17 u
Change	- 4x5 = - 20 u	- 1x3 = - 3 u
After	3x5 = 15 u	5x3 = 15 u

Fraction of cream shortbreads left
= 1 - ⁴₇
= ³₇

Fraction of strawberry shortbreads left
= 1 - ¹₆
= ⁵₆

The number of cream shortbreads and strawberry shortbreads in the end is the same. Make the numerators the same.  LCM of 5 and 3 is 15.

³₇ of cream shortbreads = ⁵₆ of strawberry shortbreads
¹⁵₃₅ of cream shortbreads = ¹⁵₁₈ of strawberry shortbreads

Number of more cream shortbreads than strawberry shortbreads at first
= 35 u - 18 u
= 17 u

17 u = 68

1 u = 68 ÷ 17 = 4

Number of cream shortbreads that Joelle gave away
= 35 u - 15 u
= 20 u
= 20 x 4
= 80

Answer(s): 80