Lets write an equation with the information provided in the problem: 6n that is 6 small boxes with n cans of soup in each 4(2n) that is 4 boxes with as twice as many cans as in the small So for the small boxes he has 6n cans and for the bigger boxes he has 4*2n = 8n cans therefore in total he has: 6n + 8n = 14n cans