There are 25% more red beads than white beads in a bag. After John removed 40% of the red beads and increased the number of white beads by 30%, there are now 176 fewer red beads than white beads. Find the number of white beads at first.

	Red	White
Before	5 u	4 u
Change	- 2 u	+ 1.2 u
After	3 u	5.2 u

Number of red beads in percentage
= 100% + 25%
= 125%

125% = ¹²⁵₁₀₀ = ⁵₄

Number of red beads that John removed
= 40% x 5 u
= ⁴⁰₁₀₀ x 5 u 
= 2 u

Number of white beads that John increased 
= 30% x 4 u
= ³⁰₁₀₀  x 4 u
= 1.2 u

Number of red beads in the end
= 5 u - 2 u
= 3 u

Number of white beads in the end
= 4 u + 1.2 u
= 5.2 u

Number of fewer red beads than white beads in the end
= 5.2 u - 3 u 
= 2.2 u 

2.2 u = 176

1 u = 176 ÷ 2.2 = 80

Number of white beads at first
= 4 u
= 4 x 80
= 320

Answer(s): 320