Pierre, Ryan and Owen bought some cupcakes. After Pierre ate ²₅ of his cupcakes, Ryan ate ²₃ of his cupcakes and Owen ate 5 cupcakes, each of them had the same number of cupcakes left. Pierre had 8 less cupcakes than Ryan at first.

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

	Pierre	Ryan	Owen
Before	5 u	3x3 = 9 u	3 u + 5
Change	- 2 u	- 2x3 = - 6 u	- 5
After	3 u	1x3 = 3 u	3 u

(a)
The number of cupcakes that Pierre and Ryan each had in the end is the same. Make the number of cupcakes that Pierre and Ryan each had in the end the same.  LCM of 3 and 1 is 3.

Number of cupcakes that Pierre had less than Ryan at first
= 9 u - 5 u
= 4 u

4 u = 8

1 u = 8 ÷ 4 = 2

Number of cupcakes that Pierre had at first
= 5 u
= 5 x 2
= 10 

(b)
Total number of cupcakes that the 3 of them bought
= 5 u + 9 u + 3 u + 5
= 17 u + 5
= 17 x 2 + 5
= 34 + 5
= 39

Answer(s): (a) 10; (b) 39