Charlie, Lee and Bobby bought some muffins. After Charlie ate ³₇ of his muffins, Lee ate ³₄ of his muffins and Bobby ate 6 muffins, each of them had the same number of muffins left. Charlie had 72 less muffins than Lee at first.

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

	Charlie	Lee	Bobby
Before	7 u	4x4 = 16 u	4 u + 6
Change	- 3 u	- 3x4 = - 12 u	- 6
After	4 u	1x4 = 4 u	4 u

(a)
The number of muffins that Charlie and Lee each had in the end is the same. Make the number of muffins that Charlie and Lee each had in the end the same.  LCM of 4 and 1 is 4.

Number of muffins that Charlie had less than Lee at first
= 16 u - 7 u
= 9 u

9 u = 72

1 u = 72 ÷ 9 = 8

Number of muffins that Charlie had at first
= 7 u
= 7 x 8
= 56 

(b)
Total number of muffins that the 3 of them bought
= 7 u + 16 u + 4 u + 6
= 27 u + 6
= 27 x 8 + 6
= 216 + 6
= 222

Answer(s): (a) 56; (b) 222