SOLUTION: Mary counted 15 cupcakes left from the whole batch that Mother made for the picnic. "We've already eaten two-fifths," she shouted. How many cupcakes did Mother bake. I tried 15* 2/

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Question 1086603: Mary counted 15 cupcakes left from the whole batch that Mother made for the picnic. "We've already eaten two-fifths," she shouted. How many cupcakes did Mother bake. I tried 15* 2/5 and came up with 6 eaten from the 15. I then added 6 to the 15 showing that 21 cupcakes were made. However, that seems to tell me that the two-fifths made be in error. I know that the unknown is the total amount of the cupcakes baked. Unclear as to how to find the unknown with a problem as 15 X 2/5=x or 15 + 2/5x=x. Thank you.
Answer by MathTherapy(10552)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Mary counted 15 cupcakes left from the whole batch that Mother made for the picnic. "We've already eaten two-fifths," she shouted. How many cupcakes did Mother bake. I tried 15* 2/5 and came up with 6 eaten from the 15. I then added 6 to the 15 showing that 21 cupcakes were made. However, that seems to tell me that the two-fifths made be in error. I know that the unknown is the total amount of the cupcakes baked. Unclear as to how to find the unknown with a problem as 15 X 2/5=x or 15 + 2/5x=x. Thank you.
No, no, no! It can't be done like that!

Since  was eaten,  of the total made, was left

This means that 15 represents  of the total number made. 

With N being the number baked, this leads to the following PROPORTION: 

 ------- Cross-multiplying

Number baked, or  

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