Abi spent $74 to buy some boxes of banana and vanilla macarons. Each box of banana macarons cost $5 and each box of vanilla macarons cost $9. The banana macarons were packed in boxes of 6 macarons each and the vanilla macarons were packed in boxes of 4 macarons each. She bought an equal number of banana macarons and vanilla macarons.
(a) How many boxes of banana macarons did she buy?
(b) How many boxes of vanilla macarons did she buy?
(a)
Total number of banana macarons and vanilla macarons is the same.

LCM of 6 and 4 = 12

Number of boxes for 12 banana macarons
= 12 ÷ 6
= 2

Number of boxes for 12 vanilla macarons
= 12 ÷ 4
= 3

1 set = 2 boxes of banana macarons and 3 boxes of vanilla macarons

Cost of 1 set
= 2 x 5 + 3 x 9
= 10 + 27
= $37

Number of sets
= 74 ÷ 37
= 2

Boxes of banana macarons
= 2 x 2
= 4

(b)
Boxes of vanilla macarons
= 2 x 3
= 6

Answer(s): (a) 4; (b) 6