Final answer:
To find the weight of each metal bracket, multiply the number of boxes by the number of brackets per box to get the total number of brackets, then divide the total weight of the shipment by this number to find the weight per bracket.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question is mathematics, and it typically falls under middle school curriculum. The student is asking to find the weight of a single metal bracket when given the total weight of a shipment containing multiple boxes of these brackets. To solve this, we must first find the total number of brackets in the shipment and then divide the total weight by this number.
Since there are 8 boxes and each box contains 20 metal brackets, we multiply:
8 boxes × 20 brackets/box = 160 brackets in total
48 pounds ÷ 160 brackets = 0.3 pounds per bracket
Therefore, each metal bracket weighs 0.3 pounds.