Question 785442
Let b = number of strawberries the cook has.


Using 12 berries per cake,  {{{b/12}}} cakes plus {{{1/12}}} cake.  I can only feel that this fraction of a cake will not be applied in the next strawberry usage rate;


Using 8 berries per cake, {{{b/8=b/12+6}}} cakes plus {{{1/8}}} cake.
This rate seems to be {{{b/8=b/12+6+1/8}}}, units of "cakes".  
Multiply left & right by 24 to clear the fractions:

{{{3b=2b+24*6+3}}}
{{{b=24*6+3}}}
{{{highlight(b=147)}}} berries or strawberries. 


To finish, if the pastry cook applies 5 strawberries per cake, this will be {{{147/5=highlight(29)}}} cakes plus 2 strawberries left remaining.