A fruit seller sells only kiwis and starfruits. The ratio of kiwis to starfruits is 3 : 5. A total of 294 fruits are added. The number of kiwis becomes 3 times as many as before and the number of starfruits becomes 4 times as many as before. How many fruits are there at first?

	Comparing kiwis at first and in the end	Kiwis	Starfruits	Comparing starfruits at first and in the end
Before	1x3 = 3 u	3 u	5 u	1x5 = 5 u
Change		+ 294
After	3x3 = 9 u	9 u	20 u	4x5 = 20 u

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

The number of kiwis at first is repeated. Make the number of kiwis 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 + 20 u
= 29 u

Number of fruits added
= 29 u - 8 u 
= 21 u

21 u = 294

1 u = 294 ÷ 21 = 14

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

Answer(s): 112