Tom, Billy and Ahmad bought some shortbreads. After Tom ate ²₇ of his shortbreads, Billy ate ⁴₅ of his shortbreads and Ahmad ate 9 shortbreads, each of them had the same number of shortbreads left. Tom had 36 less shortbreads than Billy at first.

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

	Tom	Billy	Ahmad
Before	7 u	5x5 = 25 u	5 u + 9
Change	- 2 u	- 4x5 = - 20 u	- 9
After	5 u	1x5 = 5 u	5 u

(a)
The number of shortbreads that Tom and Billy each had in the end is the same. Make the number of shortbreads that Tom and Billy each had in the end the same.  LCM of 5 and 1 is 5.

Number of shortbreads that Tom had less than Billy at first
= 25 u - 7 u
= 18 u

18 u = 36

1 u = 36 ÷ 18 = 2

Number of shortbreads that Tom had at first
= 7 u
= 7 x 2
= 14 

(b)
Total number of shortbreads that the 3 of them bought
= 7 u + 25 u + 5 u + 9
= 37 u + 9
= 37 x 2 + 9
= 74 + 9
= 83

Answer(s): (a) 14; (b) 83