Mrs Tan prepared some sticks of satay and muffins for her students. The ratio of the number of sticks of satay prepared to the number of muffins prepared was 3 : 1. Each student was given 5 sticks of satay and 2 muffins. There were 52 sticks of satay left after all the muffins were given out. How many students are there? Ans: ___

1. Express the ratio of satay to muffins prepared

Ratio of satay to muffins prepared = $3 : 1 = 6 : 2$.

2. Compare the ratio prepared with the ratio given out to find the remainder in units

Each student receives $5$ sticks of satay and $2$ muffins.
Since all muffins were given out, the number of muffins given out is $2$ units per student.
The number of satay prepared is $6$ units per student.
The number of satay given out is $5$ units per student.
Satay left = $6 - 5 = 1$ unit per student.

3. Equate the remainder in units to the actual remainder to find the number of students

Total satay left = $1 \text{ unit} \times \text{number of students} = 52$.
Since $1$ unit per student is left, and total left is $52$, there are $52$ students.