Charlie, Oliver and Michael bought some tarts. After Charlie ate ³₈ of his tarts, Oliver ate ¹₂ of his tarts and Michael ate 5 tarts, each of them had the same number of tarts left. Charlie had 10 less tarts than Oliver at first.

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

	Charlie	Oliver	Michael
Before	8 u	2x5 = 10 u	5 u + 5
Change	- 3 u	- 1x5 = - 5 u	- 5
After	5 u	1x5 = 5 u	5 u

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

Number of tarts that Charlie had less than Oliver at first
= 10 u - 8 u
= 2 u

2 u = 10

1 u = 10 ÷ 2 = 5

Number of tarts that Charlie had at first
= 8 u
= 8 x 5
= 40 

(b)
Total number of tarts that the 3 of them bought
= 8 u + 10 u + 5 u + 5
= 23 u + 5
= 23 x 5 + 5
= 115 + 5
= 120

Answer(s): (a) 40; (b) 120