There were 115 blue, white and gold markers in a box. 3 gold markers were removed from the box and the ratio of the number of blue markers to the number of white markers to the number of gold markers became 5 : 4 : 7. Then some green markers were added and the ratio of the number of gold markers to the number of green markers was 7 : 2.

1. What was the ratio of the number of blue markers to the number of white markers to the number of gold markers at first?
2. How many markers were in the box in the end?

	Blue	White	Gold	Green	Total
Before	5 u	4 u	7 u + 3	0	115
Change 1	No change	No change	- 3		- 3
After 1	5 u	4 u	7 u		112
Change 2	No change	No change	No change	+ 2 u
After 2	5 u	4 u	7 u	2 u

(a)
Total number of markers at first
= 5 u + 4 u + 7 u + 3
= 16 u + 3

16 u + 3 = 115
16 u = 115 - 3
16 u = 112

1 u = 112 ÷ 16 = 7

Number of blue markers at first
= 5 u
= 5 x 7
= 35

Number of white markers at first
= 4 u
= 4 x 7
= 28

Number of gold markers at first
= 7 u + 3
= 7 x 7 + 3
= 52 

At first
Blue markers : White markers : Gold markers
35 : 28 : 52

(b)
Total number of markers in the box in the end
= 5 u + 4 u + 7 u + 2 u
= 18 u
= 126

Answer(s): (a) 35 : 28 : 52; (b) 126