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Question 74975:
Answer by psbhowmick(878) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Assume that there are equal number of apples in each carton.

a) The no. of apples in each carton of 1st man = 180%2Fx.
b) The no. of apples in each carton of 2nd man = 160%2F%28x%2B5%29.
c) (No. of apples per carton of the 1st man) - (No. of apples per carton of the 2nd man) = 4
So, 180%2Fx+-+160%2F%28x%2B5%29+=+4
%28180%28x%2B5%29+-+160x%29%2Fx%28x%2B5%29+=+4
%28180x%2B900+-+160x%29%2Fx%28x%2B5%29+=+4
%2820x%2B900%29%2Fx%28x%2B5%29+=+4
%2820x%2B900%29+=4x%28x%2B5%29
20x%2B900+=4x%5E2%2B20x
4x%5E2-900=0
x%5E2-225=0
x%5E2-15%5E2=0
%28x%2B15%29%28x-15%29=0

So x = 15 [since x = no. of cartons cannot be negative]
Thus the first man had 15 cartons.

So, no. of apples in each carton of the first man = 180%2F15 = 12.