A total of 112 gold staplers and grey staplers are in a container. The ratio of gold staplers to grey staplers was 2 : 5. Some brown staplers and blue staplers were put into the container. For every 4 grey staplers that were already in the container, 8 blue ones were added. Then, the final number of gold staplers and brown staplers was ¹₆ the final number of grey staplers and blue staplers. Find the total number of brown and blue staplers.

Brown staplers	Gold staplers	Grey staplers	Blue staplers
	2x4	5x4
		4x5	8x5
1x10		6x10
2 u	8 u	20 u	40 u

The number of grey staplers is repeated.  Make the number of grey staplers the same.  LCM of 5 and 4 is 20.

The total number of grey staplers and blue staplers is repeated.  Make the total number of grey and blue staplers the same.  LCM of 60 and 6 is 60.

Total number of gold staplers and grey staplers
= 8 u + 20 u
= 28 u

28 u = 112

1 u = 112 ÷ 28 = 4

Total number of brown and blue staplers
= 2 u + 40 u
= 42 u
= 42 x 4
= 168

Answer(s): 168