SOLUTION: A shop assistant was to stack 231 cereal boxes in a display window. The manager wanted all 231 boxes to be used and the boxes to be stacked in a triangle. x x x

Question 1143728: A shop assistant was to stack 231 cereal boxes in a display window. The manager wanted all
231 boxes to be used and the boxes to be stacked in a triangle.
x
x x
x x x
x x x x
How many boxes needed to be placed on the bottom row to build the
display and what is the equation to work it out?
Answer by Boreal(15235) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
want the sum of n numbers, which is n(n+1)/2
that equals 231
so n(n+1)=462
n^2+n-462=0
(n+22)(n-21)=0
positive root is n=21
boxes on the bottom row.

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