Final Answer:
You need to buy 24 pencils and 24 highlighters for an equal amount.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the least number of pencils and highlighters needed for an equal amount, we can use the least common multiple (LCM) of 8 and 12. The LCM of 8 and 12 is 24. This means that to have an equal amount of pencils and highlighters, you would need to buy 24 pencils and 24 highlighters. This ensures that both the pencils and highlighters are in equal quantities, with each set having a multiple of the LCM.
In this case, since pencils come in packs of 8 and highlighters in packs of 12, buying 24 of each ensures that there are an equal number of each item. This is because 24 is the smallest common multiple of both 8 and 12, making it the least number of each item needed for an equal amount.
By purchasing 24 pencils and 24 highlighters, you can ensure that you have an equal amount of both items without any leftover or excess quantity.
This approach guarantees that you have the minimum number of items required to achieve equality in quantity between pencils and highlighters.