On Tuesday, Michael read ⁴₇ of a novel. On Wednesday, he read 24 pages of the novel. On Thursday, he read ⁵₈ of the remaining book leaving 36 pages unread.

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

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

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

3 u = 36

1 u = 36 ÷ 3 = 12

Number of pages that Michael read on Thursday
= 5 u
= 5 x 12
= 60

(b) 
Working backwards.

Number of pages unread after reading on Wednesday
= 8 u
= 8 x 12
= 96

Total number of pages in the novel = 7 p

Number of pages unread after reading on Tuesday 
= 7 p - 4 p
= 3 p

3 p = 24 + 96
3 p = 120

1 p = 120 ÷ 3 = 40

Total number of pages in the novel
= 7 p
= 7 x 40
= 280

Answer(s): (a) 60; (b) 280