Peter, Brandon and Fred bought some puffs. After Peter ate ³₈ of his puffs, Brandon ate ¹₂ of his puffs and Fred ate 7 puffs, each of them had the same number of puffs left. Peter had 18 less puffs than Brandon at first.

1. How many puffs did Peter have at first?
2. How many puffs did the 3 of them buy altogether? 

	Peter	Brandon	Fred
Before	8 u	2x5 = 10 u	5 u + 7
Change	- 3 u	- 1x5 = - 5 u	- 7
After	5 u	1x5 = 5 u	5 u

(a)
The number of puffs that Peter and Brandon each had in the end is the same. Make the number of puffs that Peter and Brandon each had in the end the same.  LCM of 5 and 1 is 5.

Number of puffs that Peter had less than Brandon at first
= 10 u - 8 u
= 2 u

2 u = 18

1 u = 18 ÷ 2 = 9

Number of puffs that Peter had at first
= 8 u
= 8 x 9
= 72 

(b)
Total number of puffs that the 3 of them bought
= 8 u + 10 u + 5 u + 7
= 23 u + 7
= 23 x 9 + 7
= 207 + 7
= 214

Answer(s): (a) 72; (b) 214