Question

Mel buys paper plates and paper cups for an event.

The plates are sold in packs. Each pack contains 60 plates.
The cups are sold in packs. Each pack contains 36 cups.
Mel buys exactly the same number of plates as cups.
What is the least number of each pack that Mel buys?

Answer 1

3 packs of plates; 5 packs of cups

Explanation:

First we have to find the least common multiple of the two. (factor tree, birthday cake) (Strategies not shown) You should get 180.

Next we have to see how many times each number goes into 180.

60 times 3 is 180 plates. 36 times 5 is 180.

That's your answer. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

For this you need to find the lcm of 36 and 60 = 180
therefore :
Mel needs to buy 5 packets of cups


(36*5=180cups)
and 3 packets of plates (60*3=180 plates)