Hey there. I like to lay out this sort of question in this way…
2 caterpillars = 6 leaves
We’ve been told to work out how many leaves 12 caterpillars eat each day.
So we can fill in our extra information…
2 caterpillars = 6 leaves
12 caterpillars = x leaves
From 2 to 12, we have multiplied by 6. What we do to one side, we must do to the other. Therefore, 6 x 6 = 36 leaves.
So for 12 caterpillars, they eat 36 leaves each day.