Ivory made 18 more strawberry croissants than pandan croissants. After she gave away ²₇ of the strawberry croissants and ¹₈ of the pandan croissants, there were an equal number of strawberry croissants and pandan croissants left. How many strawberry croissants did she give away?

	Strawberry croissants	Pandan croissants	Difference
Before	7x7 = 49 u	8x5 = 40 u	9 u
Change	- 2x7 = - 14 u	- 1x5 = - 5 u
After	5x7 = 35 u	7x5 = 35 u

Fraction of strawberry croissants left
= 1 - ²₇
= ⁵₇

Fraction of pandan croissants left
= 1 - ¹₈
= ⁷₈

The number of strawberry croissants and pandan croissants in the end is the same. Make the numerators the same.  LCM of 7 and 5 is 35.

⁵₇ of strawberry croissants = ⁷₈ of pandan croissants
³⁵₄₉ of strawberry croissants = ³⁵₄₀ of pandan croissants

Number of more strawberry croissants than pandan croissants at first
= 49 u - 40 u
= 9 u

9 u = 18

1 u = 18 ÷ 9 = 2

Number of strawberry croissants that Ivory gave away
= 49 u - 35 u
= 14 u
= 14 x 2
= 28

Answer(s): 28