On Wednesday, John read ⁵₇ of a novel. On Thursday, he read 40 pages of the novel. On Friday, he read ³₈ of the remaining book leaving 45 pages unread.

1. Find the number of pages read on Friday.
2. Find the total number of pages in the novel.

(a)
Number of remaining unread pages after reading on Thursday = 8 u

Number of remaining unread pages after reading on Friday
= 8 u - 3 u
= 5 u

5 u = 45

1 u = 45 ÷ 5 = 9

Number of pages that John read on Friday
= 3 u
= 3 x 9
= 27

(b) 
Working backwards.

Number of pages unread after reading on Thursday
= 8 u
= 8 x 9
= 72

Total number of pages in the novel = 7 p

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

2 p = 40 + 72
2 p = 112

1 p = 112 ÷ 2 = 56

Total number of pages in the novel
= 7 p
= 7 x 56
= 392

Answer(s): (a) 27; (b) 392