First: set up the proportion Cookies:wheat = 8:2 Simplify = 4:1 We need to find how much wheat he needs for 2,000 cookies. We need to assign a variable for wheat Wheat = W If Josh needs to make 2,000 cookies he would need W amount of wheat Original proportion = 4:1 For 2,000 cookies = 2,000:W To get from 4 to 2,000 2,000/4 = 500 So W/1 = 500 Isolate the variable: w/1 (1) = 500/1 W = 500