Will, Billy and Ahmad bought some tarts. After Will ate ³₈ of his tarts, Billy ate ⁴₅ of his tarts and Ahmad ate 7 tarts, each of them had the same number of tarts left. Will had 153 less tarts than Billy at first.

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

	Will	Billy	Ahmad
Before	8 u	5x5 = 25 u	5 u + 7
Change	- 3 u	- 4x5 = - 20 u	- 7
After	5 u	1x5 = 5 u	5 u

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

Number of tarts that Will had less than Billy at first
= 25 u - 8 u
= 17 u

17 u = 153

1 u = 153 ÷ 17 = 9

Number of tarts that Will had at first
= 8 u
= 8 x 9
= 72 

(b)
Total number of tarts that the 3 of them bought
= 8 u + 25 u + 5 u + 7
= 38 u + 7
= 38 x 9 + 7
= 342 + 7
= 349

Answer(s): (a) 72; (b) 349