Two boxes of apples contain a total of 24 apples. If you halve the number of apples in the first box and add 4 apples to the second box, the total changes to 20 apples. How many apples are in each box initially?

A. 12 and 12

B. 18 and 6

C. 16 and 8

D. 10 and 14

Step-by-step explanation:

let the no.s of apples in the one box be=x

then no.s of apples in the 2nd box =24-x

according to the question,

24-x+4=20

-x= 20-28

-x=-8

x= 8

no.s of apples in one box= 8

and no.s of apples in another box=24-8= 16

option C

option C is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the number of apples in the first box.

Let y represent the number of apples in the second box.

Two boxes of apples contain a total of 24 apples. It means that

x + y = 24

If you halve the number of apples in the first box and add 4 apples to the second box, the total changes to 20 apples. This means that

x/2 + y + 4 = 20

Cross multiplying by 2, it becomes

x + 2y + 8 = 40

x + 2y = 40 - 8

x + 2y = 32- - - - - - - - - - - - - -1

Substituting x = 24 - y into equation 1, it becomes

24 - y + 2y = 32

- y + 2y = 32 - 24

y = 8

x = 24 - y = 24 - 8

x = 16