Eva, Nicole and Elyse had 702 cards. Nicole won some of the cards from Eva and as a result, Nicole's cards increased by 50%. Elyse then won some cards from Nicole and Elyse's cards increased by 75%. Finally, Elyse lost some of her cards to Eva and Eva's cards increased by 20%. In the end, they realised that they each had an equal number of cards. How many percent less did Eva have in the end than what she had at first? Correct your answer to 1 decimal place.

Eva	Nicole	Elyse
702
	2 u
- 1 u	+ 1 u
	3 u
		4 p
	- 3 p	+ 3 p
		7 p
5 boxes
+ 1 box		- 1 box
6 boxes
1 group	1 group	1 group

50% = ⁵⁰₁₀₀ = ¹₂
75% = ⁷⁵₁₀₀ = ³₄
20% = ²⁰₁₀₀ = ¹₅

Working backwards.

3 groups = 702

1 group = 702 ÷ 3 = 234

1 group = 6 boxes
6 boxes = 234

1 box = 234 ÷ 6 = 39

1 group + 1 box = 7 p
234 + 39 = 7 p
7 p = 273

1 p = 273 ÷ 7 = 39

3 p = 3 x 39 = 117

1 group + 3 p = 3 u
234 + 117 = 3 u
3 u = 351

1 u = 351 ÷ 3 = 117

Number of cards that Eva had at first
= 5 boxes + 1 u
= (5 x 39) + 117
= 195 + 117
= 312

Percent that Eva had less in the end than at first
= ^{312 - 234}₃₁₂ x 100%
≈ 25.0%

Answer(s): 25.0%