Emma spent $336 to buy some boxes of cranberry and blueberry cupcakes. Each box of cranberry cupcakes cost $8 and each box of blueberry cupcakes cost $9. The cranberry cupcakes were packed in boxes of 8 cupcakes each and the blueberry cupcakes were packed in boxes of 5 cupcakes each. She bought an equal number of cranberry cupcakes and blueberry cupcakes.
(a) How many boxes of cranberry cupcakes did she buy?
(b) How many boxes of blueberry cupcakes did she buy?
(a)
Total number of cranberry cupcakes and blueberry cupcakes is the same.

LCM of 8 and 5 = 40

Number of boxes for 40 cranberry cupcakes
= 40 ÷ 8
= 5

Number of boxes for 40 blueberry cupcakes
= 40 ÷ 5
= 8

1 set = 5 boxes of cranberry cupcakes and 8 boxes of blueberry cupcakes

Cost of 1 set
= 5 x 8 + 8 x 9
= 40 + 72
= $112

Number of sets
= 336 ÷ 112
= 3

Boxes of cranberry cupcakes
= 3 x 5
= 15

(b)
Boxes of blueberry cupcakes
= 3 x 8
= 24

Answer(s): (a) 15; (b) 24