Mary had four containers, L, M, N and P which contained a total of 336 kiwis. She transferred 50 kiwis from Container L to Container M, 90 kiwis from Container M to Container N and 190 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 : 5 : 11 to 1 : 5 : 9. How many kiwis were in Container P at first?

	Make p the same (1)x5 = (3)	L (1)	M (2)	N	P
Before	20 u	4 u	5 u	11 u	?
Change 1	- 250	- 50	+ 50
Change 2			- 90	+ 90
Change 3				- 190	+ 190
After	5 p	1 p	5 p	9 p	?

4 u - 50 = 1 p --- (1)

5 u + 50 - 90 = 5 p
5 u - 40 = 5 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 5}
20 u - 250 = 5 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
20 u - 250 = 5 u - 40
20 u - 5 u = 250 - 40
15 u = 210

1 u = 210 ÷ 15 = 14

Total number of kiwis in Container L, Container M and Container N
= 4 u + 5 u + 11 u
= 20 u

Total number of kiwis in Container P at first
= 336 - 20 u
= 336 - 20 x 14
= 336 - 280
= 56

Answer(s): 56