Brad sold 12 candy bars.
To find this answer, you could do the following steps.
1. Use the formula $3b + $5c = $76 where "b" is the number of bars and "c" is the number of cookies.
2. Fill in each of the given answers (12, 14, 16, 18) into "b".
3. Subtract the given answers from 20 to get the number of cookies (8, 6, 4, 2).
4. Solve to see if it comes out even.
Below are all the solutions in which you use these steps.
A. $3 * 12 + $5 * 8 = $76
$36 + $40 = $76
$76 = $76
True
B. $3 * 14 + $5 * 6 = $76
$42 + $30 = $76
$72 = $76
False
C. $3 * 16 + $5 * 4 = $76
$48 + $20 = $76
$68 = $76
False
D. $3 * 18 + $5 * 2 = $76
$54 + $10 = $76
$64 = $76
False
Thus making 12 the answer. I hope this helps!