California

Solution

There were 12 cookies in the first batch.
Each of the children ate 6 cookies in all (3 from each batch).

Explanation

Work backward.

• At the end, there were 4 cookies left on the tray.
• Each of the children ate 3 cookies from the second batch.
  4 x 3 = 12
• Add the 12 cookies they ate to the 4 cookies left on the tray.
  12 cookies + 4 cookies = 16 cookies
• Mr. Ortiz ate 2 cookies.
  Add: 2 + 16 = 18
• 6 cookies crumbled. Add: 18 + 6 = 24
• There were 24 cookies in the second batch.
• The second batch was twice as big as the first batch: 24 ÷ 2 = 12
• There were 12 cookies in the first batch.
• To find the number of cookies each child ate in the first batch: Divide 12 cookies by 4 children. Each child ate 3 cookies.
• 3 cookies from the first batch + 3 cookies from the second batch = 6 cookies for each child.