Question 159968
Let x=number of hours it takes for them to have picked the same number of boxes

Number of boxes that Mari picks=2+5*x
Number of boxes that Brice picks=5+3*x

Now when the above two numbers are equal, they will have picked the same number of boxes, so:
2+5x=5+3x  subtract 3x and also 2 from each side
2-2+5x-3x=5-2+3x-3x  collect like terms
2x=3 divide both sides by 2
x=1.5 hr ----------------number of hours it takes for them to have picked the same number of boxes

CK
2+5*1.5=5+3*1.5
9.5=9.5

Hope this helps----ptaylor