Jeremy and Eric had 58 shortbreads altogether. After Jeremy ate ¹₅ of his shortbreads and Eric ate 6 shortbreads, the number of shortbreads Eric had left was twice the number of shortbreads Jeremy had left. How many more shortbreads did Eric have than Jeremy at first?

	Jeremy	Eric	Total
Before	5 u	8 u + 6	58
Change	- 1 u	- 6
After	4 u
Comparing Jeremy and Eric in the end	1x4 = 4 u	2x4 = 8 u

The number of shortbreads that Jeremy had in the end is the same. Make the number of shortbreads that Jeremy had in the end the same.  LCM of 4 and 1 is 4.

Total number of shortbreads at first
= 5 u + 8 u + 6
= 13 u + 6

13 u + 6 = 58
13 u = 58 - 6
13 u = 52 

1 u = 52 ÷ 13 = 4

Number of shortbreads that Jeremy had at first
= 5 u
= 5 x 4
= 20

Number of shortbreads that Eric had at first
= 58 - 20
= 38

Number of shortbreads that Eric had more than Jeremy at first
= 38 - 20
= 18

Answer(s): 18