Wendy had four containers, B, C, D and E which contained a total of 332 apples. She transferred 9 apples from Container B to Container C, 20 apples from Container C to Container D and 32 apples from Container D to Container E. The ratio of the number of apples in Container B to Container C to Container D changed from  3 : 7 : 12 to 1 : 4 : 8. How many apples were in Container E at first?

	Make p the same (1)x4 = (3)	B (1)	C (2)	D	E
Before	12 u	3 u	7 u	12 u	?
Change 1	- 36	- 9	+ 9
Change 2			- 20	+ 20
Change 3				- 32	+ 32
After	4 p	1 p	4 p	8 p	?

3 u - 9 = 1 p --- (1)

7 u + 9 - 20 = 4 p
7 u - 11 = 4 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 4}
12 u - 36 = 4 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
12 u - 36 = 7 u - 11
12 u - 7 u = 36 - 11
5 u = 25

1 u = 25 ÷ 5 = 5

Total number of apples in Container B, Container C and Container D
= 3 u + 7 u + 12 u
= 22 u

Total number of apples in Container E at first
= 332 - 22 u
= 332 - 22 x 5
= 332 - 110
= 222

Answer(s): 222