Howard had to paint some containers. On the first day, the number of containers he painted was 30% of the number of containers that he had not painted. One week later, he painted another 434 containers. As a result, the total number of painted containers became 26 more than ³₅ of the total number of containers. How many less containers were painted than unpainted on the first day?

	Painted	Not painted	Total
Before	3x5 = 15 u	10x5 = 50 u	13x5 = 65 u
Change	+ 434	- 434
After	15 u + 434	50 u - 434	65 u
Comparing painted and not painted containers in the end	3x13 + 26 = 39 u + 26	2x13 - 26 = 26 u - 26	5x13 = 65 u

30% = ³⁰₁₀₀ = ³₁₀
Painted : Not painted = 3 : 10

The total number of containers remains unchanged. Make the total number of containers at first and in the end the same.  LCM of 13 and 5 is 65.

The number of containers painted in the end is repeated.

39 u + 26 = 15 u + 434
39 u - 15 u = 434 - 26
24 u = 408

1 u = 408 ÷ 24 = 17

Number of less containers that were painted than not painted on the first day
= 50 u - 15 u
= 35 u
= 35 x 17
= 595

Answer(s): 595