A shop had 720 comics. There were Malay, Chinese and English comics in the ratio of 3 : 8 : 5. When the shop assistant brought in another 279 new comics, the number of Malay comics was increased by 40% and the number of Chinese comics was increased by ¹₂.

1. What was the number of English comics that the shop assistant brought in?
2. What was the percentage increase in the number of English comics?

	Malay	Chinese	English	Total
Before	3 u	8 u	5 u	720
Change	+ 1.2 u	+ 4 u	+ ?	+ 279
After	4.2 u	12 u	6 u	999

Increase in the number of Malay comics
= 40% x 3 u
= ⁴⁰₁₀₀ x 3 u
= 1.2 u

Increase in the number of Chinese comics
= ¹₂ x 8 u
= 4 u

Total number of comics at first
= 3 u + 8 u + 5 u
= 16 u

16 u = 720

1 u = 720 ÷ 16 = 45

Increase in the number of Malay and Chinese comics
= 1.2 u + 4 u
= 5.2 u
= 5.2 x 45
= 234

Number of English comics brought in
= 279 - 234
= 45 

(b)
Number of English comics at first
= 5 u
= 5 x 45
= 225

Percentage increase in English comics
= ⁴⁵₂₂₅ x 100%
= 20%

Answer(s): (a) 45; (b) 20%