Japheth, Pierre and Jeremy had some stickers in the ratio of 2 : 3 : 5. Jeremy gave 40% of his stickers to Japheth and Pierre. As a result, Japheth had the same number of stickers as Pierre and Jeremy had 27 fewer stickers than Japheth.

1. What was the percentage increase in Japheth's stickers after receiving from Jeremy?
2. How many stickers did Pierre have at first?

Japheth	Pierre	Jeremy	Total
2 u	3 u	5 u	10 u
+ 2 u		- 2 u
3.5 u	3.5 u	3 u	10 u

(a)
Number of stickers that Jeremy gave away
= 40% x 5
= ⁴⁰₁₀₀ x 5
= 2 u

Number of stickers that Japheth and Pierre each had in the end
= (10 u - 3 u) ÷ 2
= 7 u ÷ 2
= 3.5 u

Increase in the number of stickers that Japheth had
= 3.5 u - 2 u
= 1.5 u

Percentage increase in Japheth's stickers after receiving from Jeremy
= ^1.5₂ x 100%
= 75%

(b)
3.5 u = 3 u + 27
3.5 u - 3 u = 27
0.5 u = 27

1 u = 27 ÷ 0.5 = 54

Number of stickers that Pierre had at first
= 3 u
= 3 x 54
= 162

Answer(s): (a) 75%; (b) 162