Final answer:
To determine the number of small boxes and large boxes purchased, set up a system of equations using the given information. Solve the system to find the values of x and y. The camp purchased 6 small boxes and 2 large boxes.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the number of small boxes purchased and the number of large boxes purchased, we can set up a system of equations using the given information. Let's define our variables:
Let x be the number of small boxes.
Let y be the number of large boxes.
From the problem, we know that:
x = 3y (The camp bought 3 times as many small boxes as large boxes)
8x + 12y = 72 (Altogether, the boxes had 72 granola bars)
Now we can solve this system of equations to find the values of x and y.
Substituting the value of x from the first equation into the second equation, we have:
8(3y) + 12y = 72
24y + 12y = 72
36y = 72
y = 2
Substituting y = 2 back into the first equation, we have:
x = 3(2)
x = 6
Therefore, the camp purchased 6 small boxes and 2 large boxes.