Seth, Tom and Julian bought some shortbreads. After Seth ate ⁵₈ of his shortbreads, Tom ate ⁴₅ of his shortbreads and Julian ate 12 shortbreads, each of them had the same number of shortbreads left. Seth had 63 less shortbreads than Tom at first.

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

	Seth	Tom	Julian
Before	8 u	5x3 = 15 u	3 u + 12
Change	- 5 u	- 4x3 = - 12 u	- 12
After	3 u	1x3 = 3 u	3 u

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

Number of shortbreads that Seth had less than Tom at first
= 15 u - 8 u
= 7 u

7 u = 63

1 u = 63 ÷ 7 = 9

Number of shortbreads that Seth had at first
= 8 u
= 8 x 9
= 72 

(b)
Total number of shortbreads that the 3 of them bought
= 8 u + 15 u + 3 u + 12
= 26 u + 12
= 26 x 9 + 12
= 234 + 12
= 246

Answer(s): (a) 72; (b) 246