On Wednesday, George read ⁵₇ of a non-fiction book. On Thursday, he read 17 pages of the non-fiction book. On Friday, he read ³₅ of the remaining book leaving 14 pages unread.

1. Find the number of pages read on Friday.
2. Find the total number of pages in the non-fiction book.

(a)
Number of remaining unread pages after reading on Thursday = 5 u

Number of remaining unread pages after reading on Friday
= 5 u - 3 u
= 2 u

2 u = 14

1 u = 14 ÷ 2 = 7

Number of pages that George read on Friday
= 3 u
= 3 x 7
= 21

(b) 
Working backwards.

Number of pages unread after reading on Thursday
= 5 u
= 5 x 7
= 35

Total number of pages in the non-fiction book = 7 p

Number of pages unread after reading on Wednesday 
= 7 p - 5 p
= 2 p

2 p = 17 + 35
2 p = 52

1 p = 52 ÷ 2 = 26

Total number of pages in the non-fiction book
= 7 p
= 7 x 26
= 182

Answer(s): (a) 21; (b) 182