Answer:
28 boxes
Step-by-step explanation:
Let the number of boxes that Darryl started with = x
He bought 8 boxes, therefore he now has: (x+8) boxes
If half of all his boxes were destroyed in a fire, it means he was left with half of all his boxes.
Since there are now only 18 boxes left:
![(x+8)/(2)=18](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/yf9fxiq54a4yv9mk9tv93thdqmmp417u3v.png)
We then solve for x.
![\begin{gathered} x+8=18*2 \\ x+8=36 \\ x=36-8 \\ x=28 \end{gathered}](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/t59bygbex178wg7huks81ciromxrt4dlb8.png)
Therefore, Darryl started with 28 boxes.