Zane, Japheth and Wesley had some stickers in the ratio of 2 : 3 : 5. Wesley gave 40% of his stickers to Zane and Japheth. As a result, Zane had the same number of stickers as Japheth and Wesley had 17 fewer stickers than Zane.

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

Zane	Japheth	Wesley	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 Wesley gave away
= 40% x 5
= ⁴⁰₁₀₀ x 5
= 2 u

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

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

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

(b)
3.5 u = 3 u + 17
3.5 u - 3 u = 17
0.5 u = 17

1 u = 17 ÷ 0.5 = 34

Number of stickers that Japheth had at first
= 3 u
= 3 x 34
= 102

Answer(s): (a) 75%; (b) 102