Esther had four containers, L, M, N and P which contained a total of 247 kiwis. She transferred 21 kiwis from Container L to Container M, 35 kiwis from Container M to Container N and 56 kiwis from Container N to Container P. The ratio of the number of kiwis in Container L to Container M to Container N changed from  4 : 6 : 9 to 1 : 4 : 6. How many kiwis were in Container P at first?

	Make p the same (1)x4 = (3)	L (1)	M (2)	N	P
Before	16 u	4 u	6 u	9 u	?
Change 1	- 84	- 21	+ 21
Change 2			- 35	+ 35
Change 3				- 56	+ 56
After	4 p	1 p	4 p	6 p	?

4 u - 21 = 1 p --- (1)

6 u + 21 - 35 = 4 p
6 u - 14 = 4 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 4}
16 u - 84 = 4 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
16 u - 84 = 6 u - 14
16 u - 6 u = 84 - 14
10 u = 70

1 u = 70 ÷ 10 = 7

Total number of kiwis in Container L, Container M and Container N
= 4 u + 6 u + 9 u
= 19 u

Total number of kiwis in Container P at first
= 247 - 19 u
= 247 - 19 x 7
= 247 - 133
= 114

Answer(s): 114