Linda, Hilda and Jen had 1008 erasers. Hilda won some of the erasers from Linda and as a result, Hilda's erasers increased by 50%. Jen then won some erasers from Hilda and Jen's erasers increased by 75%. Finally, Jen lost some of her erasers to Linda and Linda's erasers increased by 20%. In the end, they realised that they each had an equal number of erasers. How many percent less did Linda have in the end than what she had at first? Correct your answer to 1 decimal place.

Linda	Hilda	Jen
1008
	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 = 1008

1 group = 1008 ÷ 3 = 336

1 group = 6 boxes
6 boxes = 336

1 box = 336 ÷ 6 = 56

1 group + 1 box = 7 p
336 + 56 = 7 p
7 p = 392

1 p = 392 ÷ 7 = 56

3 p = 3 x 56 = 168

1 group + 3 p = 3 u
336 + 168 = 3 u
3 u = 504

1 u = 504 ÷ 3 = 168

Number of erasers that Linda had at first
= 5 boxes + 1 u
= (5 x 56) + 168
= 280 + 168
= 448

Percent that Linda had less in the end than at first
= ^{448 - 336}₄₄₈ x 100%
≈ 25.0%

Answer(s): 25.0%