Owen, Ivan and Elijah bought some muffins. After Owen ate ²₅ of his muffins, Ivan ate ¹₂ of his muffins and Elijah ate 8 muffins, each of them had the same number of muffins left. Owen had 9 less muffins than Ivan at first.

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

	Owen	Ivan	Elijah
Before	5 u	2x3 = 6 u	3 u + 8
Change	- 2 u	- 1x3 = - 3 u	- 8
After	3 u	1x3 = 3 u	3 u

(a)
The number of muffins that Owen and Ivan each had in the end is the same. Make the number of muffins that Owen and Ivan each had in the end the same.  LCM of 3 and 1 is 3.

Number of muffins that Owen had less than Ivan at first
= 6 u - 5 u
= 1 u

1 u = 9

1 u = 9 ÷ 1 = 9

Number of muffins that Owen had at first
= 5 u
= 5 x 9
= 45 

(b)
Total number of muffins that the 3 of them bought
= 5 u + 6 u + 3 u + 8
= 14 u + 8
= 14 x 9 + 8
= 126 + 8
= 134

Answer(s): (a) 45; (b) 134