Intially there are b boxes, after that 8 more boxes are bought. So total number of boxes are,
![b+8](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/4hmaparw220i2e1nau9k2ncvvca44acs59.png)
Half of total boxes are destroyed which means destroyd boxes are,
![(b+8)/(2)](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/km2rc98a9jt2mbgw2t584sk2hek5cqj36v.png)
The remaining number of boxes is equal to 20. So equation is,
![\begin{gathered} b+8-(b+8)/(2)=20 \\ (b+8)/(2)=20 \end{gathered}](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/uyrwhpcyux0o8y7d284lnargil2c3ow7wi.png)
Simplify the equation for b.
![\begin{gathered} b+8=20\cdot2 \\ b=40-8 \\ =32 \end{gathered}](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/2c5ryryxxyp66xbil8kr5mdhh5u3pcz2ag.png)
Equation or inequality: (b+8)/2 = 20
Mark began with 32 boxes.