Fanny, Usha and Zoe had 1440 pens. Usha won some of the pens from Fanny and as a result, Usha's pens increased by 20%. Zoe then won some pens from Usha and Zoe's pens increased by 60%. Finally, Zoe lost some of her pens to Fanny and Fanny's pens increased by 25%. In the end, they realised that they each had an equal number of pens. How many percent less did Fanny have in the end than what she had at first? Correct your answer to 1 decimal place.

Fanny	Usha	Zoe
1440
	5 u
- 1 u	+ 1 u
	6 u
		5 p
	- 3 p	+ 3 p
		8 p
4 boxes
+ 1 box		- 1 box
5 boxes
1 group	1 group	1 group

20% = ²⁰₁₀₀ = ¹₅
60% = ⁶⁰₁₀₀ = ³₅
25% = ²⁵₁₀₀ = ¹₄

Working backwards.

3 groups = 1440

1 group = 1440 ÷ 3 = 480

1 group = 5 boxes
5 boxes = 480

1 box = 480 ÷ 5 = 96

1 group + 1 box = 8 p
480 + 96 = 8 p
8 p = 576

1 p = 576 ÷ 8 = 72

3 p = 3 x 72 = 216

1 group + 3 p = 6 u
480 + 216 = 6 u
6 u = 696

1 u = 696 ÷ 6 = 116

Number of pens that Fanny had at first
= 4 boxes + 1 u
= (4 x 96) + 116
= 384 + 116
= 500

Percent that Fanny had less in the end than at first
= ^{500 - 480}₅₀₀ x 100%
≈ 4.0%

Answer(s): 4.0%