Liam, Perry and Brandon bought some croissants. After Liam ate ⁵₈ of his croissants, Perry ate ⁴₅ of his croissants and Brandon ate 5 croissants, each of them had the same number of croissants left. Liam had 56 less croissants than Perry at first.

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

	Liam	Perry	Brandon
Before	8 u	5x3 = 15 u	3 u + 5
Change	- 5 u	- 4x3 = - 12 u	- 5
After	3 u	1x3 = 3 u	3 u

(a)
The number of croissants that Liam and Perry each had in the end is the same. Make the number of croissants that Liam and Perry each had in the end the same.  LCM of 3 and 1 is 3.

Number of croissants that Liam had less than Perry at first
= 15 u - 8 u
= 7 u

7 u = 56

1 u = 56 ÷ 7 = 8

Number of croissants that Liam had at first
= 8 u
= 8 x 8
= 64 

(b)
Total number of croissants that the 3 of them bought
= 8 u + 15 u + 3 u + 5
= 26 u + 5
= 26 x 8 + 5
= 208 + 5
= 213

Answer(s): (a) 64; (b) 213