A fruit seller sells only chikoos and pomegranates. The ratio of chikoos to pomegranates is 3 : 5. A total of 224 fruits are added. The number of chikoos becomes 3 times as many as before and the number of pomegranates becomes 3 times as many as before. How many fruits are there at first?

	Comparing chikoos at first and in the end	Chikoos	Pomegranates	Comparing pomegranates at first and in the end
Before	1x3 = 3 u	3 u	5 u	1x5 = 5 u
Change		+ 224
After	3x3 = 9 u	9 u	15 u	3x5 = 15 u

The number of pomegranates at first is repeated.  Make the number of pomegranates at first the same.  LCM of 1 and 5 is 5.

The number of chikoos at first is repeated. Make the number of chikoos at first the same. LCM of 1 and 3 is 3.

Number of fruits at first
= 3 u + 5 u
= 8 u

Number of fruits in the end
= 9 u + 15 u
= 24 u

Number of fruits added
= 24 u - 8 u 
= 16 u

16 u = 224

1 u = 224 ÷ 16 = 14

Number of fruits at first
= 8 u
= 8 x 14
= 112

Answer(s): 112