There were some mangosteens and pears in Box T and Box U. In Box T, the ratio of the mangosteens to the number of pears was 4 : 1. In Box U, the ratio of the number of mangosteens to the number of pears was 3 : 2. There were 2 times as many fruits in Box T as in Box U. After another 8 pears were put into Box U, the ratio of the number of mangosteens to the number of pears in Box U became 1 : 2. How many fruits were there in Box T?

Box T		Box U
2x5 = 10 u		1x5 = 5 u
Mangosteens	Pears	Mangosteens	Pears
4x2	1x2	3	2
8 u	2 u	3 u	2 u

The total number of fruits in Box T is repeated.  Make the total number of fruits in Box T the same.  LCM of 2 and 5 is 10.

The total number of fruits in Box U at first is repeated.  Make the total number of fruits in Box U the same.  LCM of 1 and 5 is 5.

	Box T		Box U
	Mangosteens	Pears	Mangosteens	Pears
Before	8 u	2 u	3 u	2 u
Change				+ 8
After	8 u	2 u	1x3 = 3 u	2x3 = 6 u

Number of mangosteens in Box U remains unchanged.  Make the number of mangosteens in Box U the same.  LCM of 3 and 1 is 3.

Number of pears put into Box U
= 6 u - 2 u
= 4 u

4 u = 8

1 u = 8 ÷ 4 = 2

Number of fruits in Box T
= 8 u + 2 u
= 10 u
= 10 x 2
= 20

Answer(s): 20