Xylia had four containers, N, P, Q and R which contained a total of 348 apples. She transferred 23 apples from Container N to Container P, 36 apples from Container P to Container Q and 62 apples from Container Q to Container R. The ratio of the number of apples in Container N to Container P to Container Q changed from  4 : 5 : 10 to 1 : 3 : 6. How many apples were in Container R at first?

	Make p the same (1)x3 = (3)	N (1)	P (2)	Q	R
Before	12 u	4 u	5 u	10 u	?
Change 1	- 69	- 23	+ 23
Change 2			- 36	+ 36
Change 3				- 62	+ 62
After	3 p	1 p	3 p	6 p	?

4 u - 23 = 1 p --- (1)

5 u + 23 - 36 = 3 p
5 u - 13 = 3 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 3}
12 u - 69 = 3 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
12 u - 69 = 5 u - 13
12 u - 5 u = 69 - 13
7 u = 56

1 u = 56 ÷ 7 = 8

Total number of apples in Container N, Container P and Container Q
= 4 u + 5 u + 10 u
= 19 u

Total number of apples in Container R at first
= 348 - 19 u
= 348 - 19 x 8
= 348 - 152
= 196

Answer(s): 196