John has 5 times a certain number of cookies. Jerry has 3 times a certain number of cookies plus twenty more. They both have the same amount of cookies. How many cookies does each person have? Let x = a certain number of cookies
5x = 3x + 20
5x - 3x = 20
2x = 20 x = 20/2
x = 10
John: 5x = 5(10) = 50
Jerry: 3x + 20 = 3(10) + 20 = 30 + 20 = 50
They both have 50 cookies a piece