Winnie had four containers, A, B, C and D which contained a total of 296 kiwis. She transferred 17 kiwis from Container A to Container B, 34 kiwis from Container B to Container C and 85 kiwis from Container C to Container D. The ratio of the number of kiwis in Container A to Container B to Container C changed from  2 : 6 : 9 to 1 : 5 : 6. How many kiwis were in Container D at first?

	Make p the same (1)x5 = (3)	A (1)	B (2)	C	D
Before	10 u	2 u	6 u	9 u	?
Change 1	- 85	- 17	+ 17
Change 2			- 34	+ 34
Change 3				- 85	+ 85
After	5 p	1 p	5 p	6 p	?

2 u - 17 = 1 p --- (1)

6 u + 17 - 34 = 5 p
6 u - 17 = 5 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 5}
10 u - 85 = 5 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
10 u - 85 = 6 u - 17
10 u - 6 u = 85 - 17
4 u = 68

1 u = 68 ÷ 4 = 17

Total number of kiwis in Container A, Container B and Container C
= 2 u + 6 u + 9 u
= 17 u

Total number of kiwis in Container D at first
= 296 - 17 u
= 296 - 17 x 17
= 296 - 289
= 7

Answer(s): 7