Carl, Owen and Oliver bought some shortbreads. After Carl ate ²₅ of his shortbreads, Owen ate ⁴₅ of his shortbreads and Oliver ate 12 shortbreads, each of them had the same number of shortbreads left. Carl had 60 less shortbreads than Owen at first.

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

	Carl	Owen	Oliver
Before	5 u	5x3 = 15 u	3 u + 12
Change	- 2 u	- 4x3 = - 12 u	- 12
After	3 u	1x3 = 3 u	3 u

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

Number of shortbreads that Carl had less than Owen at first
= 15 u - 5 u
= 10 u

10 u = 60

1 u = 60 ÷ 10 = 6

Number of shortbreads that Carl had at first
= 5 u
= 5 x 6
= 30 

(b)
Total number of shortbreads that the 3 of them bought
= 5 u + 15 u + 3 u + 12
= 23 u + 12
= 23 x 6 + 12
= 138 + 12
= 150

Answer(s): (a) 30; (b) 150