Zoe spent $153 to buy some boxes of apricot and cranberry puffs. Each box of apricot puffs cost $5 and each box of cranberry puffs cost $9. The apricot puffs were packed in boxes of 8 puffs each and the cranberry puffs were packed in boxes of 6 puffs each. She bought an equal number of apricot puffs and cranberry puffs.
(a) How many boxes of apricot puffs did she buy?
(b) How many boxes of cranberry puffs did she buy?
(a)
Total number of apricot puffs and cranberry puffs is the same.

LCM of 8 and 6 = 24

Number of boxes for 24 apricot puffs
= 24 ÷ 8
= 3

Number of boxes for 24 cranberry puffs
= 24 ÷ 6
= 4

1 set = 3 boxes of apricot puffs and 4 boxes of cranberry puffs

Cost of 1 set
= 3 x 5 + 4 x 9
= 15 + 36
= $51

Number of sets
= 153 ÷ 51
= 3

Boxes of apricot puffs
= 3 x 3
= 9

(b)
Boxes of cranberry puffs
= 3 x 4
= 12

Answer(s): (a) 9; (b) 12