A container contains some apples, starfruits and oranges. 0.4 of the apples is equal to 70% of the starfruits. The number of oranges is ²₅ of the total number of starfruits and apples. If there are 18 less starfruits than oranges, how many fruits are there in the container altogether?

Apples	Starfruits	Oranges
7x5	4x5
5x11		2x11
35 u	20 u	22 u

0.4 = ⁴₁₀= ²₅
70% = ⁷⁰₁₀₀ = ⁷₁₀

0.4 of the apples is equal to 70% of the starfruits. Make the numerators the same.  LCM of 2 and 7 is 14.

2x75x7 of the apples = 7x210x2 of the starfruits
1435 of the apples = 1420 of the starfruits 

Apples : Starfruits
35 : 20 _(÷5)
7 : 4

The total number of apples and starfruits is repeated.  Make the total number of apples and starfruits the same.  LCM of 11 and 5 is 55.

Number of less starfruits than oranges
= 22 u - 20 u
= 2 u

2 u = 18

1 u = 18 ÷ 2 = 9

Number of the fruits in the container altogether
= 35 u + 20 u + 22 u
= 77 u
= 77 x 9
= 693

Answer(s): 693