Yoko had four containers, B, C, D and E which contained a total of 297 mangosteens. She transferred 7 mangosteens from Container B to Container C, 17 mangosteens from Container C to Container D and 41 mangosteens from Container D to Container E. The ratio of the number of mangosteens in Container B to Container C to Container D changed from  2 : 5 : 9 to 1 : 4 : 6. How many mangosteens were in Container E at first?

	Make p the same (1)x4 = (3)	B (1)	C (2)	D	E
Before	8 u	2 u	5 u	9 u	?
Change 1	- 28	- 7	+ 7
Change 2			- 17	+ 17
Change 3				- 41	+ 41
After	4 p	1 p	4 p	6 p	?

2 u - 7 = 1 p --- (1)

5 u + 7 - 17 = 4 p
5 u - 10 = 4 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 4}
8 u - 28 = 4 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
8 u - 28 = 5 u - 10
8 u - 5 u = 28 - 10
3 u = 18

1 u = 18 ÷ 3 = 6

Total number of mangosteens in Container B, Container C and Container D
= 2 u + 5 u + 9 u
= 16 u

Total number of mangosteens in Container E at first
= 297 - 16 u
= 297 - 16 x 6
= 297 - 96
= 201

Answer(s): 201