Oliver and Ryan had 39 shortbreads altogether. After Oliver ate ¹₃ of his shortbreads and Ryan ate 6 shortbreads, the number of shortbreads Ryan had left was four times the number of shortbreads Oliver had left. How many more shortbreads did Ryan have than Oliver at first?

	Oliver	Ryan	Total
Before	3 u	8 u + 6	39
Change	- 1 u	- 6
After	2 u
Comparing Oliver and Ryan in the end	1x2 = 2 u	4x2 = 8 u

The number of shortbreads that Oliver had in the end is the same. Make the number of shortbreads that Oliver had in the end the same.  LCM of 2 and 1 is 2.

Total number of shortbreads at first
= 3 u + 8 u + 6
= 11 u + 6

11 u + 6 = 39
11 u = 39 - 6
11 u = 33 

1 u = 33 ÷ 11 = 3

Number of shortbreads that Oliver had at first
= 3 u
= 3 x 3
= 9

Number of shortbreads that Ryan had at first
= 39 - 9
= 30

Number of shortbreads that Ryan had more than Oliver at first
= 30 - 9
= 21

Answer(s): 21