Flynn, Ben and Sean bought some shortbreads. After Flynn ate ⁴₇ of his shortbreads, Ben ate ²₃ of his shortbreads and Sean ate 5 shortbreads, each of them had the same number of shortbreads left. Flynn had 12 less shortbreads than Ben at first.

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

	Flynn	Ben	Sean
Before	7 u	3x3 = 9 u	3 u + 5
Change	- 4 u	- 2x3 = - 6 u	- 5
After	3 u	1x3 = 3 u	3 u

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

Number of shortbreads that Flynn had less than Ben at first
= 9 u - 7 u
= 2 u

2 u = 12

1 u = 12 ÷ 2 = 6

Number of shortbreads that Flynn had at first
= 7 u
= 7 x 6
= 42 

(b)
Total number of shortbreads that the 3 of them bought
= 7 u + 9 u + 3 u + 5
= 19 u + 5
= 19 x 6 + 5
= 114 + 5
= 119

Answer(s): (a) 42; (b) 119