Opal baked 70 macarons. ³₅ of the macarons were matcha macarons. The rest were peach macarons. She gave an equal number of matcha macarons and peach macarons away and had 3 times as many matcha macarons as peach macarons left. How many macarons did she give away?

	Matcha macarons	Peach macarons	Difference
Before	3x2 = 6 u	2x2 = 4 u	1x2 = 2 u
Change	- 3 u	- 3 u
After	3x1 = 3 u	1x1 = 1 u	2x1 = 2 u

Since Opal gave away an equal number of matcha macarons and peach macarons, the difference in the number of matcha macarons and peach macarons remains unchanged.  Make the difference in the matcha macarons and peach macarons the same.  LCM of 1 and 2 is 2.

Total number of macarons at first
= 6 u + 4 u
= 10 u

10 u = 70

1 u = 70 ÷ 10 = 7

Number of macarons that Opal gave away
= 3 u + 3 u
= 6 u
= 6 x 7 
= 42

Answer(s): 42