Let's solve the following problem:
Three bunnies and one carrot weigh as much as one bunny and two carrots. How many bunnies does a carrot weigh?
The first step in solving problems with scales is to draw a scale and note the type and number of elements rendered in the problem. In this task it is given that 3 bunnies and 1 carrot weigh as much as 1 bunny and 2 carrots.
After drawing the scales, bunnies and carrots, we see that there are bunnies and carrots on each side of the scale. All bunnies are the same weight. All carrots also weigh the same.
Let's first take out a bunny on each side of the scales.
Now let's take out one carrot on each side.
What's left on the scales?
Answer: 2 bunnies weigh as much as 1 carrot.