Lucy had four containers, J, K, L and M which contained a total of 332 pomegranates. She transferred 21 pomegranates from Container J to Container K, 30 pomegranates from Container K to Container L and 22 pomegranates from Container L to Container M. The ratio of the number of pomegranates in Container J to Container K to Container L changed from  2 : 4 : 5 to 1 : 5 : 8. How many pomegranates were in Container M at first?

	Make p the same (1)x5 = (3)	J (1)	K (2)	L	M
Before	10 u	2 u	4 u	5 u	?
Change 1	- 105	- 21	+ 21
Change 2			- 30	+ 30
Change 3				- 22	+ 22
After	5 p	1 p	5 p	8 p	?

2 u - 21 = 1 p --- (1)

4 u + 21 - 30 = 5 p
4 u - 9 = 5 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 5}
10 u - 105 = 5 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
10 u - 105 = 4 u - 9
10 u - 4 u = 105 - 9
6 u = 96

1 u = 96 ÷ 6 = 16

Total number of pomegranates in Container J, Container K and Container L
= 2 u + 4 u + 5 u
= 11 u

Total number of pomegranates in Container M at first
= 332 - 11 u
= 332 - 11 x 16
= 332 - 176
= 156

Answer(s): 156