In a shop, some water guns and rubber balls were on sale. ¹₄ of the items were water guns. ²₃ of the water guns and 156 rubber balls were sold. There were ¹₉ of the items left in the shop. How many water guns and rubber balls were there in the shop at first?

	Water guns	Rubber balls	Total
Comparing water guns  and rubber balls at first	1x9 = 9 u	3x9 = 27 u	4x9 = 36 u
Before	3x3 =  9 u		9x4 = 36 u
Change	- 2x3 = - 6 u	- 156	- 8x4 = - 32 u
After	1x3 = 3 u	1 u	1x4 = 4 u

 
The total number of toys at first is repeated.  Make the total number of toys at first the same. LCM of 4 and 9 is 36.

The number of water guns at first is repeated.  Make the number of water guns the same. LCM of 9 and 3 is 9. 

Number of rubber balls left
= 4 u - 3 u
= 1 u

Number of rubber balls sold
= 27 u - 1 u
= 26 u

26 u = 156

1 u = 156 ÷ 26 = 6

Number of water guns and rubber balls at first
= 36 u
= 36 x 6
= 216

Answer(s): 216