Question

Eric purchased a box of 72 nails to build a shelf but did not use all of the nails. The ratio of nails he used to the nails he did not use is 7 to 2. How many nails were left from the box of nails Eric bought?

Answer 1

The number of nails were left from the box of nails Eric bought is 16 .

Explanation:

Given as :

The total number of nails in the box = 72

The ratio of used nails to the unused nails = 7 : 2

Let The number of used nails = 7 x

And The number of unused nails = 2 x

Now, According to question

The total number of nails in the box = 72

Or, The number of used nails + The number of unused nails = 72

or, 7 x + 2 x = 72

or, 9 x = 72

∴ x =
`(72)/(9)`

I.e x = 8

So, The number of used nails = 7 × 8 = 56

And The number of unused nails = 2 × 8 = 16

Now, The nails left in the box = 72 - The number of used nails

Or, The nails left in the box = 72 - 56

Or, The nails left in the box = 16

Hence The number of nails were left from the box of nails Eric bought is 16 . Answer