<PRE><B>Question 1145856</B>
&lt;br&gt;
The pirate ship makes one complete circle every 32/12 = 8/3 days.&lt;br&gt;
The merchant ship makes one complete circle every 48/8 = 6 days.&lt;br&gt;
The number of days until they are again at the same point is the least common multiple of 8/3 and 6.&lt;br&gt;
It&#39;s a bit unusual to need to find the LCM of two numbers where one of them is a fraction.  So let me show the way I prefer for finding the least common multiple of ANY two numbers.&lt;br&gt;
(1) Make a fraction with the two numbers as the numerator and denominator:&lt;br&gt;
{{{(8/3)/6}}}&lt;br&gt;
(2) Simplify the fraction to where the numerator and denominator are whole numbers with no common factor:&lt;br&gt;
{{{(8/3)/6 = 8/18 = 4/9}}}&lt;br&gt;
(3) Write the equation that says the original fraction and the simplified fractions are equivalent:&lt;br&gt;
{{{(8/3)/6 = 4/9}}}&lt;br&gt;
(4) Cross multiplying in either direction will give you the LCM:&lt;br&gt;
{{{(8/3)*9 = 8*3 = 24}}}
{{{6*4 = 24}}}&lt;br&gt;
So the least common multiple of 8/3 and 6 is 24.&lt;br&gt;
ANSWER C: 24 days</PRE>