There were some apples and pomegranates in Container L and Container M. In Container L, the ratio of the apples to the number of pomegranates was 3 : 1. In Container M, the ratio of the number of apples to the number of pomegranates was 3 : 1. There were 2 times as many fruits in Container L as in Container M. After another 20 pomegranates were put into Container M, the ratio of the number of apples to the number of pomegranates in Container M became 1 : 2. How many fruits were there in Container L?

Container L		Container M
2x4 = 8 u		1x4 = 4 u
Apples	Pomegranates	Apples	Pomegranates
3x2	1x2	3	1
6 u	2 u	3 u	1 u

The total number of fruits in Container L is repeated.  Make the total number of fruits in Container L the same.  LCM of 2 and 4 is 8.

The total number of fruits in Container M at first is repeated.  Make the total number of fruits in Container M the same.  LCM of 1 and 4 is 4.

	Container L		Container M
	Apples	Pomegranates	Apples	Pomegranates
Before	6 u	2 u	3 u	1 u
Change				+ 20
After	6 u	2 u	1x3 = 3 u	2x3 = 6 u

Number of apples in Container M remains unchanged.  Make the number of apples in Container M the same.  LCM of 3 and 1 is 3.

Number of pomegranates put into Container M
= 6 u - 1 u
= 5 u

5 u = 20

1 u = 20 ÷ 5 = 4

Number of fruits in Container L
= 6 u + 2 u
= 8 u
= 8 x 4
= 32

Answer(s): 32