Question 74975
Assume that there are equal number of apples in each carton.


a) The no. of apples in each carton of 1st man = {{{180/x}}}.
b) The no. of apples in each carton of 2nd man = {{{160/(x+5)}}}.
c) (No. of apples per carton of the 1st man) - (No. of apples per carton of the 2nd man) = 4
So, {{{180/x - 160/(x+5) = 4}}}
{{{(180(x+5) - 160x)/x(x+5) = 4}}}
{{{(180x+900 - 160x)/x(x+5) = 4}}}
{{{(20x+900)/x(x+5) = 4}}}
{{{(20x+900) =4x(x+5)}}}
{{{20x+900 =4x^2+20x}}}
{{{4x^2-900=0}}}
{{{x^2-225=0}}}
{{{x^2-15^2=0}}}
{{{(x+15)(x-15)=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 = {{{180/15}}} = 12.