Shiyun had four boxes, B, C, D and E which contained a total of 296 lemons. She transferred 26 lemons from Box B to Box C, 70 lemons from Box C to Box D and 100 lemons from Box D to Box E. The ratio of the number of lemons in Box B to Box C to Box D changed from  3 : 7 : 10 to 1 : 4 : 9. How many lemons were in Box E at first?

	Make p the same (1)x4 = (3)	B (1)	C (2)	D	E
Before	12 u	3 u	7 u	10 u	?
Change 1	- 104	- 26	+ 26
Change 2			- 70	+ 70
Change 3				- 100	+ 100
After	4 p	1 p	4 p	9 p	?

3 u - 26 = 1 p --- (1)

7 u + 26 - 70 = 4 p
7 u - 44 = 4 p --- (2)

(1) _{x 4}
12 u - 104 = 4 p --- (3)

Make p the same.

(3) = (2)
12 u - 104 = 7 u - 44
12 u - 7 u = 104 - 44
5 u = 60

1 u = 60 ÷ 5 = 12

Total number of lemons in Box B, Box C and Box D
= 3 u + 7 u + 10 u
= 20 u

Total number of lemons in Box E at first
= 296 - 20 u
= 296 - 20 x 12
= 296 - 240
= 56

Answer(s): 56