Vaidev, Owen and Flynn bought some cupcakes. After Vaidev ate ⁵₈ of his cupcakes, Owen ate ²₃ of his cupcakes and Flynn ate 6 cupcakes, each of them had the same number of cupcakes left. Vaidev had 3 less cupcakes than Owen at first.

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

	Vaidev	Owen	Flynn
Before	8 u	3x3 = 9 u	3 u + 6
Change	- 5 u	- 2x3 = - 6 u	- 6
After	3 u	1x3 = 3 u	3 u

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

Number of cupcakes that Vaidev had less than Owen at first
= 9 u - 8 u
= 1 u

1 u = 3

1 u = 3 ÷ 1 = 3

Number of cupcakes that Vaidev had at first
= 8 u
= 8 x 3
= 24 

(b)
Total number of cupcakes that the 3 of them bought
= 8 u + 9 u + 3 u + 6
= 20 u + 6
= 20 x 3 + 6
= 60 + 6
= 66

Answer(s): (a) 24; (b) 66