Question

I took 18 pencils from the box. this is equivalent to 2/5 of the total number of pencils.

How many pencils were there in the box originally. Show your work.

Answer 1

45
if 18 is 2/5, than 9 is 1/5. That means that 5/5 is 45.
Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Answer: 45 pencils were in the box originally

Explanation:

Suppose there were x pencils in the box originally. Since 18 pencils is equal to 2/5 of the total number of pencils in the box originally, set 18 equal to 2/5x or

18=2/5x

Now solve

x = 18x5/2 = 45