Penelope had four boxes, Q, R, S and T which contained a total of 248 chikoos. She transferred 20 chikoos from Box Q to Box R, 32 chikoos from Box R to Box S and 33 chikoos from Box S to Box T. The ratio of the number of chikoos in Box Q to Box R to Box S changed from  2 : 4 : 5 to 1 : 4 : 6. How many chikoos were in Box T at first?

	Make p the same (1)x4 = (3)	Q (1)	R (2)	S	T
Before	8 u	2 u	4 u	5 u	?
Change 1	- 80	- 20	+ 20
Change 2			- 32	+ 32
Change 3				- 33	+ 33
After	4 p	1 p	4 p	6 p	?

2 u - 20 = 1 p --- (1)

4 u + 20 - 32 = 4 p
4 u - 12 = 4 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 4}
8 u - 80 = 4 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
8 u - 80 = 4 u - 12
8 u - 4 u = 80 - 12
4 u = 68

1 u = 68 ÷ 4 = 17

Total number of chikoos in Box Q, Box R and Box S
= 2 u + 4 u + 5 u
= 11 u

Total number of chikoos in Box T at first
= 248 - 11 u
= 248 - 11 x 17
= 248 - 187
= 61

Answer(s): 61