Apples are 1/4, so the remainder is 3/4 of the basket. Pears are 2/9 of that remainder and equal 6. Work back through the remainder to the whole.

Plain numbers are given; italic underlined numbers are worked out.

1. Pears → 2/9 of remainder = 6 ⇒ remainder = 6 ÷ 2 × 9 = 27
2. Remainder is 3/4 of total → 27 = 3/4 of total
3. Total → 27 ÷ 3 × 4 = 36

There are 36 fruits in the basket.

Check: apples 9, remainder 27, pears 2/9 × 27 = 6. ✓