Linda had four boxes, B, C, D and E which contained a total of 223 chikoos. She transferred 26 chikoos from Box B to Box C, 49 chikoos from Box C to Box D and 49 chikoos from Box D to Box E. The ratio of the number of chikoos in Box B to Box C to Box D changed from  4 : 7 : 10 to 1 : 4 : 9. How many chikoos were in Box E at first?

	Make p the same (1)x4 = (3)	B (1)	C (2)	D	E
Before	16 u	4 u	7 u	10 u	?
Change 1	- 104	- 26	+ 26
Change 2			- 49	+ 49
Change 3				- 49	+ 49
After	4 p	1 p	4 p	9 p	?

4 u - 26 = 1 p --- (1)

7 u + 26 - 49 = 4 p
7 u - 23 = 4 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 4}
16 u - 104 = 4 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
16 u - 104 = 7 u - 23
16 u - 7 u = 104 - 23
9 u = 81

1 u = 81 ÷ 9 = 9

Total number of chikoos in Box B, Box C and Box D
= 4 u + 7 u + 10 u
= 21 u

Total number of chikoos in Box E at first
= 223 - 21 u
= 223 - 21 x 9
= 223 - 189
= 34

Answer(s): 34