SOLUTION: What is the minimum number of bags the dentist can fill without having leftover toothbrushes or dental floss cases. The dentist purchased toothbrushes in boxes of 12 and dental flo

Algebra ->  Human-and-algebraic-language -> SOLUTION: What is the minimum number of bags the dentist can fill without having leftover toothbrushes or dental floss cases. The dentist purchased toothbrushes in boxes of 12 and dental flo      Log On


   



Question 550962: What is the minimum number of bags the dentist can fill without having leftover toothbrushes or dental floss cases. The dentist purchased toothbrushes in boxes of 12 and dental floss in packs of 9.
Thanks

Answer by TutorDelphia(193) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This problem is asking for the least common multiple of 12 and 9
I like to solve lcm problems by primes
12's prime factorization is 3*2*2
9's prime factorization is 3*3
This will give me 3*3*2*2 as the lcm
which would be 36
Another way of doing this is just saying
12,24,36
9,18,27,36
So we will need 36 bags (and 3 boxes of toothbrushes and four boxes of dental floss)