Answer:
11 cartons
Step-by-step explanation:
Number of large boxes that can be contained in a carton = 8
Number of small boxes that can be contained in a carton = 10
Total number of boxes sent in one shipment = 96
This shipment contains both large and small boxes. Let there be x cartons of large boxes and y cartons of small boxes in one shipment. So, we can say,
Total number of large boxes in one shipment = Number of boxes in one carton * Total number of cartons = 8x
Similarly,
Total number of small boxes in one shipment = 10y
Since, total number of boxes in one shipment is 96, we can set up the equation as:
8x + 10y = 96
This equation can have following possible solutions:
- x =2, y = 8
- x = 7, y = 4
- x = 12, y = 0
We are given in the statement that are more large boxes than the small boxes, the valid solutions are:
- x = 7, y = 4
- x = 12, y = 0
Assuming that he sent both large and small boxes, the only valid solution will be:
This means, the merchant sent 7 cartons of large boxes i.e. 56 large boxes and 4 cartons of small boxes i.e. 40 small boxes. So in total he sent 11 cartons.
