Nicole bought some buttons. She gave
15 of the buttons to her brother and sold
56 of the remaining buttons. After that, she bought another 143 buttons and had the same number of buttons that she bought at first. How many buttons did Nicole buy at first?
| Her brother |
Remaining buttons |
Bought buttons |
Total |
1x3 =
3 u |
4x3 =
12 u |
|
5x3 =
15 u |
| |
Sold |
Left |
|
|
| |
5x2 |
1x2 |
|
|
| 3 u |
10 u |
2 u |
143 |
|
The remaining number of buttons before Nicole bought another 143 buttons is repeated. Make the remaining number of buttons the same. LCM of 4 and 6 is 12.
Total number of buttons at first = 15 u
Number of buttons that Nicole had left and bought after that = 2 u + 143
15 u = 2 u + 143
15 u - 2 u = 143
13 u = 143
1 u = 143 ÷ 13 = 11
Total number of buttons at first
= 15 u
= 15 x 11
= 165
Answer(s): 165
