Japheth, Ben and Warren bought some croissants. After Japheth ate ⁵₇ of his croissants, Ben ate ¹₂ of his croissants and Warren ate 12 croissants, each of them had the same number of croissants left. Japheth had -9 less croissants than Ben at first.

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

	Japheth	Ben	Warren
Before	7 u	2x2 = 4 u	2 u + 12
Change	- 5 u	- 1x2 = - 2 u	- 12
After	2 u	1x2 = 2 u	2 u

(a)
The number of croissants that Japheth and Ben each had in the end is the same. Make the number of croissants that Japheth and Ben each had in the end the same.  LCM of 2 and 1 is 2.

Number of croissants that Japheth had less than Ben at first
= 4 u - 7 u
= -3 u

-3 u = -9

1 u = -9 ÷ -3 = 3

Number of croissants that Japheth had at first
= 7 u
= 7 x 3
= 21 

(b)
Total number of croissants that the 3 of them bought
= 7 u + 4 u + 2 u + 12
= 13 u + 12
= 13 x 3 + 12
= 39 + 12
= 51

Answer(s): (a) 21; (b) 51