Zara had four containers, S, T, U and V which contained a total of 292 lemons. She transferred 19 lemons from Container S to Container T, 27 lemons from Container T to Container U and 57 lemons from Container U to Container V. The ratio of the number of lemons in Container S to Container T to Container U changed from  4 : 5 : 12 to 1 : 3 : 6. How many lemons were in Container V at first?

	Make p the same (1)x3 = (3)	S (1)	T (2)	U	V
Before	12 u	4 u	5 u	12 u	?
Change 1	- 57	- 19	+ 19
Change 2			- 27	+ 27
Change 3				- 57	+ 57
After	3 p	1 p	3 p	6 p	?

4 u - 19 = 1 p --- (1)

5 u + 19 - 27 = 3 p
5 u - 8 = 3 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 3}
12 u - 57 = 3 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
12 u - 57 = 5 u - 8
12 u - 5 u = 57 - 8
7 u = 49

1 u = 49 ÷ 7 = 7

Total number of lemons in Container S, Container T and Container U
= 4 u + 5 u + 12 u
= 21 u

Total number of lemons in Container V at first
= 292 - 21 u
= 292 - 21 x 7
= 292 - 147
= 145

Answer(s): 145