Using the concept of fractions and proportions, if Monica ate 2/9 of the cookies, and Ryan ate 1/3, the quantity left for them to share is 16 cookies.
To solve:
The total number of shareable cookies = 36
The number of sharing partners = 2 (Monica and Ryan)
The proportion (fraction) eaten by Monica = 2/9
The proportion (fraction) eaten by Ryan = 1/3
The total fraction eaten by Monica and Ryan = 5/9 (2/9 + 1/3)
The remaining fraction left = 4/9 (1 - 5/9)
The total eaten by Monica and Ryan = 20 (36 x 5/9)
The number of cookies remaining = 16 (36 x 4/9)
Thus, we can conclude that Monica and Ryan ate 20 cookies with 16 left for them to share.
Complete Question:
Monica and Ryan shared 36 cookies. If Monica ate 2/9 of the cookies, and Ryan ate 1/3, how many cookies were left for them to share?