There are some scones in a box. The scones can be put into plates of 4 or 8 with no scones leftover. When the scones are put into plates of 7, there are short of 2 scones on the last plate. If there are more than 40 scones but less than 60 scones, how many scones are there in the box?
If scones can be put into plates of 4 or 8 with no scones leftover, the number of scones is a multiple of 8 as 8 is a multiple of 4.

Multiples of 8 that are greater than 40 but less than 60: 40, 48, 56

Multiples of 7 that are greater than 40 but less than 60: 42, 49, 56
Multiples of 7 (- 2) that are greater than 40 but less than 60: 40, 47, 54

Common number = 40

Number of scones = 40

Answer(s): 40