Riordan, Cole and Howard bought some biscuits. After Riordan ate ³₈ of his biscuits, Cole ate ²₃ of his biscuits and Howard ate 10 biscuits, each of them had the same number of biscuits left. Riordan had 56 less biscuits than Cole at first.

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

	Riordan	Cole	Howard
Before	8 u	3x5 = 15 u	5 u + 10
Change	- 3 u	- 2x5 = - 10 u	- 10
After	5 u	1x5 = 5 u	5 u

(a)
The number of biscuits that Riordan and Cole each had in the end is the same. Make the number of biscuits that Riordan and Cole each had in the end the same.  LCM of 5 and 1 is 5.

Number of biscuits that Riordan had less than Cole at first
= 15 u - 8 u
= 7 u

7 u = 56

1 u = 56 ÷ 7 = 8

Number of biscuits that Riordan had at first
= 8 u
= 8 x 8
= 64 

(b)
Total number of biscuits that the 3 of them bought
= 8 u + 15 u + 5 u + 10
= 28 u + 10
= 28 x 8 + 10
= 224 + 10
= 234

Answer(s): (a) 64; (b) 234