Elijah, Ryan and Liam had some balls. Ryan had 80% less balls than Elijah. Ryan had ²₇ of Liam's. After Elijah gave 72 balls to Ryan, he had ¹₂ of what Ryan had. How many more balls did Liam have than Elijah in the end?

Elijah	Ryan	Liam
5x2	1x2
	2x1	7x1
10	2	7

	Liam	Elijah	Ryan	Total balls of  Elijah and Ryan
Before	7x1 = 7 u	10x1 = 10 u	2x1 = 2 u	12x1 = 12 u
Change		- 72	+ 72
After	7 u	1x4 = 4 u	2x4 = 8 u	3x4 = 12 u

Number of balls that Ryan had less than Elijah at first in percent
= 100% - 80%
= 20%

20% = ²⁰₁₀₀ = ¹₅

Elijah : Ryan = 5 : 1

The number of balls that Ryan had at first is repeated.  Make the number of balls that Ryan had at first the same.  LCM of 1 and 2 is 2.

When Elijah gave 72 balls to Ryan, the total number of balls that Ryan and Elijah had at first and in the end remains the same.  Make the total number of balls that Ryan and Elijah had the same.  LCM of 12 and 3 is 12.

Number of balls that Elijah gave to Ryan
= 10 u - 4 u
= 6 u

6 u = 72

1 u = 72 ÷ 6 = 12

Number of balls that Liam had more than Elijah in the end
= 7 u - 4 u
= 3 u
= 3 x 12
= 36

Answer(s): 36