Japheth, Harry and Bryan bought some shortbreads. After Japheth ate ⁵₈ of his shortbreads, Harry ate ¹₂ of his shortbreads and Bryan ate 2 shortbreads, each of them had the same number of shortbreads left. Japheth had -8 less shortbreads than Harry at first.

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

	Japheth	Harry	Bryan
Before	8 u	2x3 = 6 u	3 u + 2
Change	- 5 u	- 1x3 = - 3 u	- 2
After	3 u	1x3 = 3 u	3 u

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

Number of shortbreads that Japheth had less than Harry at first
= 6 u - 8 u
= -2 u

-2 u = -8

1 u = -8 ÷ -2 = 4

Number of shortbreads that Japheth had at first
= 8 u
= 8 x 4
= 32 

(b)
Total number of shortbreads that the 3 of them bought
= 8 u + 6 u + 3 u + 2
= 17 u + 2
= 17 x 4 + 2
= 68 + 2
= 70

Answer(s): (a) 32; (b) 70