1. **State the problem:** You have 72 apples in total, with 38 red apples and the rest green. Among all apples, 46 have worms and cannot be used for cooking. We want to find the maximum number of green apples that can be used for cooking. 2. **Find the number of green apples:** Total apples = 72 Red apples = 38 Green apples = Total - Red = $$72 - 38 = 34$$ 3. **Analyze the wormy apples:** Total wormy apples = 46 Since 38 apples are red, the maximum wormy apples that can be red is 38 (all red apples could be wormy). 4. **Maximize green apples without worms:** To maximize green apples usable for cooking, minimize wormy green apples. If all 38 red apples have worms, then wormy green apples = $$46 - 38 = 8$$ 5. **Calculate green apples without worms:** Total green apples = 34 Wormy green apples = 8 Green apples without worms = $$34 - 8 = 26$$ **Final answer:** The maximum number of green apples you could have left to cook with is **26**.