Tammy had four boxes, B, C, D and E which contained a total of 273 passion fruits. She transferred 22 passion fruits from Box B to Box C, 52 passion fruits from Box C to Box D and 116 passion fruits from Box D to Box E. The ratio of the number of passion fruits in Box B to Box C to Box D changed from  3 : 5 : 10 to 1 : 5 : 8. How many passion fruits were in Box E at first?

	Make p the same (1)x5 = (3)	B (1)	C (2)	D	E
Before	15 u	3 u	5 u	10 u	?
Change 1	- 110	- 22	+ 22
Change 2			- 52	+ 52
Change 3				- 116	+ 116
After	5 p	1 p	5 p	8 p	?

3 u - 22 = 1 p --- (1)

5 u + 22 - 52 = 5 p
5 u - 30 = 5 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 5}
15 u - 110 = 5 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
15 u - 110 = 5 u - 30
15 u - 5 u = 110 - 30
10 u = 80

1 u = 80 ÷ 10 = 8

Total number of passion fruits in Box B, Box C and Box D
= 3 u + 5 u + 10 u
= 18 u

Total number of passion fruits in Box E at first
= 273 - 18 u
= 273 - 18 x 8
= 273 - 144
= 129

Answer(s): 129