Xylia had four containers, M, N, P and Q which contained a total of 325 pomegranates. She transferred 47 pomegranates from Container M to Container N, 99 pomegranates from Container N to Container P and 171 pomegranates from Container P to Container Q. The ratio of the number of pomegranates in Container M to Container N to Container P changed from  4 : 5 : 9 to 1 : 2 : 6. How many pomegranates were in Container Q at first?

	Make p the same (1)x2 = (3)	M (1)	N (2)	P	Q
Before	8 u	4 u	5 u	9 u	?
Change 1	- 94	- 47	+ 47
Change 2			- 99	+ 99
Change 3				- 171	+ 171
After	2 p	1 p	2 p	6 p	?

4 u - 47 = 1 p --- (1)

5 u + 47 - 99 = 2 p
5 u - 52 = 2 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 2}
8 u - 94 = 2 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
8 u - 94 = 5 u - 52
8 u - 5 u = 94 - 52
3 u = 42

1 u = 42 ÷ 3 = 14

Total number of pomegranates in Container M, Container N and Container P
= 4 u + 5 u + 9 u
= 18 u

Total number of pomegranates in Container Q at first
= 325 - 18 u
= 325 - 18 x 14
= 325 - 252
= 73

Answer(s): 73